MAJOR SHANNON GEANEY, USMCR

Shannon Geaney is a Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and a full time Los Angeles Police Officer.  Her twelve years of service to our nation and seven years as a police officer are two chapters in a compelling story of dedication, performance, and service above and beyond the standard; she is a leader among Marines, and a faithful servant of the people in both the civilian and military communities.

Shannon graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science.  Upon matriculation, she attended the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA.  Her May 25, 1994 commissioning as a Marine Corps 2^nd Lieutenant took place aboard the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides.”  Thus began a distinguished career of leadership.

As a 2^nd Lieutenant, Geaney moved on to The Basic School, learning infantry platoon leadership and the responsibilities of a Marine Corps Leader.  From there, she continued to the Basic Communication Officer’s Course, studying network engineering.  Her first command was the 9^th Communication Battalion at Camp Pendleton where she served as Platoon Commander, Company XO, and Company CO.  Geaney was promoted to 1^st Lieutenant at the earliest opportunity.

1^st Lieutenant Geaney moved on to the First Marine Expeditionary Force, Special Operations Training Group.  She served as Communications Officer and a member of the training cadre for the Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Qualification Training.  During this tour,

1^st Lieutenant Geaney was promoted to Captain, again at the earliest opportunity.

In 1998, Shannon transferred to the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserves and enrolled in the Los Angeles Police Academy.  As a Police Officer, she chose to patrol the most violent areas of the city, focusing on reducing domestic violence.

Following September 11, 2001 Captain Geaney heard the call to service.  She became the Officer in Charge, Network Operations Center, Headquarters Marine Corps Forces Europe.  Following this service, she had the opportunity to return home.  Instead, Geaney assumed duties as the Hospital Liaison Officer in Charge and developed a database that revolutionized the Corps’ ability to support wounded Marines and their families.  This accomplishment earned Geaney the Meritorious Service Medal, presented by Commander, Marine Corps Forces Atlantic.

By 2003, Geaney had joined the Fleet Hospital in Rota, Spain.  She retained her responsibilities for the Liaison Teams, essentially giving her two full-time commands.  The Commander of Fleet Hospital Eight acknowledged this dedication by awarding her the Navy Commendation Medal.  In June 2004, Geaney was promoted to Major; once again selected at the earliest opportunity. 

Following the tsunami disaster in the South Pacific, the Marine Corps once again called for Major Geaney’s leadership.  On a voluntary deployment to Thailand, Major Geaney served as Deputy Director of the Combined Coordination Center, Combined Support Force 536.  She coordinated the needs of humanitarian organizations with the military branches of seventeen participating nations.

Today, Major Geaney is engaged in Counterterrorism duties at the Los Angeles Police Department.  She is still an officer in the Marine Corps Reserve, awaiting her next opportunity to lead Marines.