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U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Timothy A. Gerdes will retire from the Marine Corps after serving 24 years.
He enlisted in February 1990 and attended recruit training at MCRD in San Diego, Calif. After graduation from the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in Dam Neck, Va., as an intelligence specialist, Gerdes was first assigned to the 1st Marine Division G-2, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
His later assignments were in various divisions and locations in the United States and overseas. He served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; in Mogadishu, Somalia with Operation Restore Hope; in Al Assad, Iraq, and Fallujah, Iraq, with Operation Iraqi Freedom; and two tours of duty in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
During his career, he received promotions, commendations and decorations including: the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbons and individual service and unit awards.
Gerdes completed his Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Mount Olive College and his Master’s of Science in strategic intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
After his retirement, Gerdes and his family will move to the Denver, Colo., area and he will begin working for Cargill Inc.
He is the son of Ronald and Sally Gerdes of Princeton and Cave Creek, Ariz. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Guthrie and the late Mr. and Mrs. Reinhard Gerdes originally of Princeton.