Greg Newbold

Gregory S. "Greg" Newbold is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps, whose last assignment was as Director of Operations for the Joint Staff. He retired, in part, due to his opposition to the planned Iraq War.

Prior to the Joint Staff, he commanded the 1st Marine Division, and had headed Marine infantry units at platoon, company and battalion levels. He commanded the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit during the initial Operation RESTORE HOPE deployment in Somalia. LTG Newbold held national-level staff posts in the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of the Navy, and Marine Corps headquarters.

After the 9-11 attack, in late December 2001, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had OPLAN 1003-98 presented by LTG Greg Newbold, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in late 2001. Rumsfeld believed the plan, which called for up to 500,000 troops, was far too large; Rumsfeld thought that no more than 125,000 would be needed. Newbold later said he regretted he did not say, at the time, Mr. Secretary, if you try to put a number on a mission like this, you may cause enormous mistakes. Give the military the task, give the military what you would like to see them do, and let them come up with it. I was the junior military man in the room, but I regret not saying it </blockqu