The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is pleased to announce that BGen David Reist, USMC (Ret.), has been promoted to the position of Vice President in the Strategy and Planning Division. BGen Reist joined the Potomac Institute as a Senior Research Fellow in 2009, after completing over 31 years of active service in the US Marine Corps. In his final USMC assignment he served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics Department, (LP), Headquarters, United States Marine Corps, Washington, DC. Prior to his promotion to Vice President at the Potomac Institute, he served as Director of the Institute's Strategy and Planning Division.
Commenting on his new position, BGen Reist said, "I am humbled, honored, and thankful to be considered for this position. The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is a remarkable organization and we are all thankful for the work they do."
During his career in the Marine Corps, BGen Reist commanded at every level, culminating in leadership of a unit of more than 8,000 Marines that supported operations globally, including combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. BGen Reist served three tours in Iraq and has served in executive staff positions focusing on support for joint and Marine Corps operations. His primary experience and capabilities reside in the logistics arena and include problem identification, concept generation, identification of capabilities and requirements, and solution implementation. His expertise in problem-solving has been applied in numerous contexts, maximizing the results of existing systems through process improvement, developing new systems where required, and formulating the strategic concepts to support the development of innovative problem-solving strategies.
BGen Reist’s command assignments include: CO Company A, 2nd Landing Support Battalion (1981-1982); CO Company A, Marine Barracks 8th & I (1985-1986); CO Beach & Port Company, 2nd Landing Support Battalion (1989-1990); CO 1st Landing Support Battalion (1997-1998); CO 1st Transportation Support Battalion (2002-2004) (redesignated Transportation Support Group during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Combat Service Support Group-11 during Operation Iraqi Freedom-II) and CG 1st Force Service Support Group (redesignated 1st Marine Logistics Group) (2005-2007). His staff assignments include: Division G-4, 3rd Marine Division (1982-1983); Head, Motor Transport, Engineer, and Utilities Writer Section, Marine Corps Institute (1983-1984); Registrar, Marine Corps Institute (1984-1985); Operations Officer, MSSG-22 for LF6F 4-87 and 1-89 (1987-1989); Executive Officer, 2nd Landing Support Battalion (1990); Ground Prepositioning Program Sponsor (1990-1992) and Maritime Prepositioning Program Sponsor (1992-1993), Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps; Current Operations Officer, U.S. Central Command J-4/7 (1994-1997); Deputy G-3, 1st FSSG (2000); Faculty Advisor (2000-2001) and Deputy Director (2001-2002), Marine Corps Command and Staff College; Chief of Staff, 1st FSSG (2004-2005) and Deputy CG (Support), I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward (2006-2007).
He graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the Marine Corps War College, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.