5th Marine Regiment Command Desk

Colonel Brian T. Mulvihill, Commanding Officer

Colonel Mulvihill was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps as a second lieutenant in May 1997 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation from the State University of New York, Maritime College. He is married to Colonel Michaela Coughlin USMCR and has two children, Cellach Rian, age 13 and Declan Patrick, age 11.

Upon graduation from Infantry Officer Course in March 1998, Second Lieutenant Mulvihill was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served as Weapons Platoon Commander, 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander, Weapons Company Executive Officer and Weapons Company Commander. He deployed with 1/2 as the 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander to Okinawa under the Unit Deployment Program.

From March to September 2000 First Lieutenant Mulvihill was a student in the Defense Language Institute Advanced Spanish Course aboard Camp Lejeune. Upon graduation he was assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force, II MEF Headquarters Group as the Headquarters Company Commander and S3A. He was then assigned to Special Operations Training Group, II MEF as the S3A. While at SOTG 1stLt Mulvihill deployed to Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia as an Instructor on Riverine Training Team 1-01.

In December 2001 Captain Mulvihill transferred to United States Marine Corps Forces, South, Miami, Florida where he served as the Counter-Narcoterrorism Operations Officer. While at MARFORSOUTH he deployed to Bogota, Colombia and served as the Riverine Plans Officer and then to Iraq as the Officer in Charge, Advisor Team to an Iraqi Army Infantry Battalion where he participated in Operation AL FAJR in November 2004.

In May 2005 Capt Mulvihill, enroute to Expeditionary Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia, was assigned to Officer Candidate School as a Platoon Commander. Upon graduation from EWS in 2006 he was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2/2, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he deployed as the Mechanized Company Commander for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Upon returning from deployment Major Mulvihill assumed the duties of Staff Secretary for 2d Marine Division. He was then transferred to 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment where he deployed to Afghanistan as the Executive Officer in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2008.

After redeploying Maj Mulvihill was assigned to Manpower Management, Officer Assignments, Manpower and Reserve Affairs in Quantico, Virginia and served as the Combat Arms Majors Monitor from 2009 to 2011. He was then transferred to 2d Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served as the Operations Officer. Maj Mulvihill then assumed the duties of OIC, Advisor Team to an Afghan National Army Infantry Battalion and deployed to Sangin District, Helmand Province in support of OEF in 2013.

During September 2013 Lieutenant Colonel Mulvihill was transferred to United States Africa Command, where he served as the J37 East and Central Counter Terrorism Branch Chief and the J35 Future Operations Officer for East, Central, and South Africa. On 11 July 2016, LtCol Mulvihill assumed command as Inspector & Instructor, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines and served in that billet for two years. On 13 June 2019 he was a Distinguished Graduate of the College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University, earning a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies. LtCol Mulvihill was then assigned as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International studies.

In July 2020, Colonel Mulvihill assumed the duties of Assistant Chief of Staff/G3 for United States Marine Forces, Europe and Africa. On 23 June 2023, Col Mulvihill assumed command of 5th Marine Regiment.

Col Mulvihill’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with valor device and gold star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph (JP) Larkin

Lieutenant Colonel Larkin is a native of Freehold, New Jersey and settled in Stafford, Virginia in 1996. He graduated from George Mason University in May 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He participated in the Platoon Leaders Course at OCS and was commissioned on July 7, 2006. Upon completion of TBS and IOC he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8) for duty as a Rifle Platoon Commander.

From July 2007 to May 2008, 2nd Lieutenant Larkin served as a Rifle Platoon Commander for Company E and deployed to Ramadi, Iraq from October 2007 to May 2008. Following this deployment, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and assigned as Company E’s Weapons Platoon Commander and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)/Fire Support Team Leader. He conducted a second deployment with 2/8 to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from May to November 2009.

In May 2010, he accepted orders to EWTGLANT and was assigned as the course manager for the Expeditionary Warfare Staff Planning course and also served as a TACP and FSCC instructor. He was promoted to Captain in October 2010.

In March 2013, Captain Larkin was assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (1/4) as the Assistant Operations Officer and deployed with the BLT on the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, from August 2013 to April 2014. From May 2014 to March 2016, Captain Larkin served as Company Commander, Company B. He deployed to Darwin, Australia from April to October 2015 as part of the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. In May 2016, Captain Larkin was selected to attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He was promoted to Major in September 2016 and earned a Master of Science in Management degree in Defense Systems Analysis.

From December 2017-January 2020, Major Larkin executed a utilization tour in the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Energy Office and served as the Technology and Requirements Branch Head. From January-July 2020 he accepted orders to 5th Marine Regiment and served as the Future Operations Officer. From July 2020 to December 2022, Major Larkin served as the Executive Officer for 2d Battalion, 5th Marines and deployed as part of the SPMAGTF-CR-CC 20.2 and the 31st MEU 22.2 Patrol. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September 2022. In December 2022 he was assigned to his current position as the 5th Marine Regiment Executive Officer.

Lieutenant Colonels Larkin’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with combat distinguishing device), and the Combat Action Ribbon. Lieutenant Colonel Larkin is married to the former Shannon Jones. They have three children: daughter Natalie 11, son Thomas 9, and daughter Clara 7.

Sergeant Major G. G. Kirkby

Sergeant Major Kirkby is a native of LaFargeville, New York. He reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC for Basic Training in August of 1998. He was assigned Military Occupational Specialty of 0111 and reported to Personnel Administrative School, Camp Johnson, NC. Upon graduation he received orders to S1 Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.

In November 2002, SgtMaj Kirkby was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and received Regimental Special Orders to serve as the Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge for Recruit Processing Company, Support Battalion.

In July 2003, SgtMaj Kirkby reported as a student to Drill Instructor School, Parris Island, SC. Following graduation he attended Marine Corps Martial Arts Green Belt Instructor Course training where he received his instructor tab. He was then assigned to Golf Company, Second Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and a Series Gunnery Sergeant. In January 2006 he was Special Duty Assignment selected for and meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

In February 2007, SgtMaj Kirkby reported to Camp Courtney, 3D Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan where he served as the Division Staff Secretary Admin Chief, and later as the G1 Administrative Chief. In October 2008 he deployed as the Command Element Administrative Chief for 3D Marine Regiment to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. While deployed he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in March 2009. Upon redeployment, he was assigned as the 3D Marine Division, G1 Adjutant Chief.

As his Okinawa tour was coming to an end, he was selected to serve as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor (AMOI) for the Naval ROTC Cornell University. While assigned as the AMOI he spent his summers at Officer Candidate School where he served as a Sergeant Instructor and Platoon Sergeant Instructor for four different platoons.

In September 2013, SgtMaj Kirkby received orders to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, SC where he was assigned as the Administrative Chief, Squadron Gunnery Sergeant, and for a period of time the Funeral Detail Staff Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge. In the winter of 2014, he was selected to the rank of First Sergeant, and promoted January 2015.

SgtMaj Kirkby reported to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA in February 2015, where he was assigned as the First Sergeant for Diablo Company and deployed with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (V31), Battalion Landing Team, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Anchorage. Following deployment, he served as the company First Sergeant for Charlie Company and later as the Headquarters & Service Company First Sergeant. In the fall of 2018, he was selected for the rank of Sergeant Major, and promoted February 2019.

In February 2019, SgtMaj Kirkby reported for duty as the Sergeant Major for Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Miramar, CA. During his tour he deployed to Kuwait as the Aviation Combat Element, Sergeant Major, while attached to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 20.2.

From 8 June 2021 to 14 October 2022, SgtMaj Kirkby served as the SgtMaj for Combat Instructor Battalion, The Basic School, Quantico, VA.

On 16 November 2022, SgtMaj Kirkby assumed his current duties as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of 5th Marine Regiment.

Sergeant Major Kirkby’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars. He is married to Ronda Kirkby, Sergeant Major, United States Marine Corps. He has one child, Amber Kirkby, Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps.

About the 5th Marine Regiment Command Desk

The 5th Marine Regiment is comprised of a Command Deck, Headquarters Company and 4 Battalions which might, at any one given time, constitute 4,000-5,000 Marines. Until such time as any one of the 5th Marines 4 Battalions, Command and/or the Headquarters Company are deployed, each are located at Camp Pendleton.

When the 5th Marine Command and Headquarters Company are deployed in a Combat Zone they are then referred to as Regimental Combat Team Five or RCT-5. The CO retains Command over each of  his four Regimental Battalions while he is deployed. An In-Country Tour for RCT-5 is normally 12 months or more. For the Units under that Command structure, their Tour is normally 7 months. These combat elements may come from other Regular or Reserve Units here in the States or elsewhere, and the CO may, during his Tour not Command any one of his 4 Battalions while In-Country.

The 4 Battalions which comprise the 5th MAR are the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5), 2/5, 3/5, and 2/4. All, including the Command, are located at Camp Pendleton in Area 62 or Camp Mateo. This compound is located just inside the Christianitos Gate.