Major General Douglas O’Dell, USMC (Ret) dedicated a career of over 40 year serving our country both in Active and Reserve service. In that time, he has lead Marines at every level from infantry platoon to Division. Much of his experience has focused on emergency response planning, training, and operations.
Simultaneous with his Reserve service, General O’Dell spent 27 years in the investment management and banking industry, culminating with his retirement as a partner of AIM Investments on September 10, 2001. During his 14 years at AIM, General O’Dell added more than $4 billion to the firm’s assets.
Immediately following 9/11, then Brigadier General O’Dell was directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to command the Marine Corp’s global anti-terrorism forces through the re-activation of 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (AT). In this role, he was responsible for the organization, training, and, when necessary, deployment of specialized forces to protect, among other activities, vital diplomatic and naval installations worldwide. He continued in this role for 3 years while based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Subsequently, Major General O’Dell assumed command of 4 th Marine Division based in New Orleans, Louisiana, responsible for the training and equipping of more than 20,000 Marines and Sailors at 106 sites from Maine to Hawaii. During this 32 month assignment, he deployed 9 battalions and numerous supporting units to combat in Iraq.
Also during this period, in September-October of 2005, General O’Dell was the Commander, US Marine Forces – JTF Katrina/Rita during Gulf Coast relief operations.
Following his retirement in January, 2008, President George W. Bush appointed General O’Dell Federal Coordinator, Gulf Coast Rebuilding and to membership on the Homeland Security Council. He left government service on January 20, 2009.
For the body of his military service, General O’Dell is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. Upon leaving government service, General O’Dell was also awarded the Secretary of Homeland Security’s Distinguished Service Medal.
In July, 2009 General O’Dell was appointed the Sole Trustee for a trio of businesses owned by Afghan-Americans in Afghanistan which had struggled to comply with government contracting regulations. In the ensuing six years, he was able to retire $11milion of corporate debt and return $36 million to the 3 shareholders and their families.
General O’Dell continues to consult on government relations and business development.
As a Director with Crossmark, General O’Dell spearheads the company’s efforts on investment banking opportunities for the military contracting industry and is responsible for CrossMark’s significant growth in that arena.
General O’Dell also directs CrossMark’s strong drive into the military industry funding and exit event arenas.