Mr. Blair J. Sokol serves as the Director of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Office of Net Assessment. In this role, Mr. Sokol advises the Commandant and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on net assessment matters, providing long-term comparative assessments of trends, key competitions, risks, opportunities, and future prospects for the Marine Corps’ roles and missions.
Mr. Sokol previously served 29 years in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Officer and planner. His service includes leadership as Platoon Commander with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines; Company Commander, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom and again as a Mobile Assault Company Commander; Commanding Officer 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; Commanding Officer, 2nd Marine Regiment; and Deputy Commander of Task Force Southwest during Operation Resolute Support 19.1 in Afghanistan.
Mr. Sokol's training and strategic planning roles include Tactics Instructor at the School of Infantry; "Coyote" live-fire controller and head of the Mojave Viper program; lead Northeast Asia Planner in the G-5, III MEF; Strategic Assessment Branch Chief with the Joint Staff; Lead of the Strategy Team for the 18th and 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Chairman’s Action Group; Deputy Director of the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force Staff Training Program; and Director, Marine Corps War College.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in History from the United States Naval Academy, a Masters in National Security Strategy from the National War College (Distinguished Graduate), Masters in Military Art and Science from the United States Army Command and Staff College, and Masters in Operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies.
His awards include the Legion of Merit with Combat ‘C’ distinguishing devise (two gold star); Bronze Star for Valor; Two Bronze Stars (Meritorious); Meritorious Service Medal (Third Award); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Joint Achievement Medal; Combat Action Ribbon.