Martin Berndt

General Berndt’s 36 years of active-duty service in the United States Marine Corps exemplify the highest ideals of courage, commitment, and selflessness. He played a pivotal role in one of the most celebrated military operations of our time, leading the 1995 rescue mission of U.S. Air Force Captain Scott O’Grady. Capt. O’Grady’s harrowing survival story, after his F-16C was shot down over Bosnia, became the inspiration for the film, Behind Enemy Lines. A 1969 graduate of West Chester University, General Berndt began his Marine Corps journey through the officer candidate program, earning his commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation. From the jungles of Vietnam to the corridors of NATO strategy, General Berndt served with distinction. He held key leadership roles across the globe, including command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces in the Atlantic, Europe, and South; U.S. Marine Corps Bases, Atlantic; and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. His accolades include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, and numerous others—each a testament to his extraordinary dedication and valor. Even after retiring in 2005, General Berndt continued his service as a mentor and consultant in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Tragically, General Martin Berndt passed away in 2011, but his legacy of leadership, service, and sacrifice lives on.