Colonel William D. Hood was commissioned in August 2000. He most recently served as the Marine Military Assistant to the Executive Secretariat, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
As a Judge Advocate, Colonel Hood has served as a Civil Law and Research Attorney, Trial Counsel, Legal Assistance Attorney, Operational Law Attorney, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Senior Trial Counsel, Regional Trial Counsel, and Staff Judge Advocate.
Deployed, Colonel Hood served as the Regimental Judge Advocate for Regimental Combat Team-5 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He also served as the Staff Judge Advocate, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Africa, and as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Colonel Hood commanded Region 2, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 2018 to 2020 and assumed command of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps in the summer of 2023.
He is a graduate of the Naval Justice School, Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School. He received a Master of Laws from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and was a Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow serving with the Department of Justice in the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.
His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, and the Navy and the Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star.