John F. Goodman

John Floyd Goodman (born November 5, 1945)[3][4] is a retired United States Marine Corps three-star general.

He began his military service with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War — during which he earned the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star with "V" Device and a Purple Heart.

As the varsity quarterback, he earned All Conference, All City, All Sacramento County, and All Superior California honors his senior year.

[5] At Arizona State University, Goodman was the Sun Devil starting quarterback in 1965 and 1966, leading the team in total offense both years.

[5][7] He reported to rookie camp, made the Saints team, and then deferred playing football while he was on "government loan".

His first combat tour was in South Vietnam as a member of a 1st Infantry Division Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol team.

[7] Goodman played professional football for the very briefly prior to entering the United States Marine Corps in 1971.

During the academic year, he served as the Air Plans Officer for I Marine Expeditionary Force in Kuwait for the Gulf War.

In July 1993, Goodman assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 at Naval Air Station Dallas.

Promoted to brigadier general in May 1997, he assumed the position of director, strategy, policy and plans (J5) of United States Southern Command in June 1997, becoming the chief of staff in May 1998.

In 2008, after Cyclone Nargis ravaged Burma, Goodman commanded U.S. Joint Task Force Caring Response.

Goodman, on numerous occasions, offered Burma's military government the use of helicopters and surface craft to support humanitarian relief efforts in the most difficult-to-reach areas of the Irrawaddy Delta.

"[12] Goodman participated in the 994th Wilton Park Conference, "The Use of Military Assets in the Humanitarian Response to Natural Disasters" held 28–30 September 2009 in West Sussex, United Kingdom.

"[12] Goodman served as the chairman of the board of advisors for Tactical Edge, Inc. -- a service-disabled veteran-owned software company—from March 2012 through December 2013.

[7] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

U.S. Navy officer Carol M. Pottenger salutes Thai military officer Kemarat Kanchanawat, alongside Goodman in 2007.
Goodman as the commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, speaks about his 41 years of service during his change of command and retirement ceremony, 2008.
From left to right: Jeff Goodman, Michael Goodman, and John Goodman II, the sons of Goodman, who was commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific at the time, fold their father's three-star flag during the MarForPac change of command and retirement ceremony. Their father also retired after 41 years of military service.