Patriot Ancestor: (John) Henry Porch
Major Robert James Cornelius, USMC (Retired)
Major Robert James Cornelius served 21 years and 6 months on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, enlisting as a Private on 23 February 1981 and retiring as a Major on 31 August 2002.
He enlisted in February 1981 and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. He graduated on May 15, 1981 and received a meritorious promotion to Private First Class along with the Leatherneck Marksmanship Award.
He attended Basic Electronics School at Twentynine Palms, California in 1981, and Outside Telephone Installation School at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in 1982. From April 1982 to December 1983 he served with Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1982 and Corporal in 1983.
He graduated from Drill Instructor School at Parris Island in April 1984 and was promoted to Sergeant that year. He served as a Drill Instructor with B Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion until May 1986. During this period he completed the Water Survival Instructor Course and served as a Water Survival Instructor (WSI).
Prior to his next assignment, he attended the Technical Controller Course at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 1986, graduating with honors.
In September 1986 he was assigned to Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group in Okinawa, Japan. While stationed Okinawa, Japan he participated in Exercise Team Spirit 1987 in Pohang, South Korea. In September 1987 he transferred to Marine Wing Communications Squadron-38 at MCAS El Toro, California where he served as the Technical Control Chief for Detachment Bravo and the Air Combat Element of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade during exercise Display Determination in Turkey. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 1988.
He was appointed a Warrant Officer 1 on 1 February 1990 and reported to The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia on 1 March 1990. After graduating in May 1990 he was assigned to Electronic Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California, serving as a Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer. He deployed from Pendleton in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991. He was commissioned a Chief Warrant Officer 2 in 1992 and subsequently attended the Communications Officer Course at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
In August 1993 he transferred to Marine Wing Communications Squadron-18 in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as Wire Platoon Commander. He participated in exercise Cobra Gold 1994 in Thailand. In September 1995 he was assigned as Base Telephone Officer, G-6, Marine Corps Base Okinawa. He was commissioned a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in 1996.
In 1997 he was commissioned as a Captain (O-3E) through the Limited Duty Officer program and transferred to Marine Wing Communications Squadron-28 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina where he served as Detachment Commander/Maintenance Officer.
In 2000 he was commissioned a Major and assigned as G-6 Electronics Maintenance Officer for the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Throughout his career he deployed to and participated in exercises and operations in 15 countries across Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and Europe.
His MOSs included 2813, 8511, 8563, 2823, 2810, 2503, 2805, and 2802.
He completed several military correspondence courses including the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Basic Communication Officer Course (28Y), the Warfighting Skills Program (M82), the Basic Communication Officer Course (28V), and the Amphibious Warfare College correspondence course.
His military personal and service awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/gold star, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/gold star, the Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation w/two bronze stars, Navy Unit Commendation w/bronze star, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars, Kuwait Liberation Medals w/bronze star, National Defense Service Medal w/bronze star, Good Conduct Medal w/bronze star, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/three bonze stars, Overseas Service Ribbon w/bronze star, the Korea Defense Service Medal, and multiple Letters of Appreciation and Certificates of Commendation.
Following his retirement from the Marine Corps in 2002, he worked as a defense contractor until 2008. As a Project Manager, he was responsible for the design, development, testing, and fielding of C4ISR systems for the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the White House Communications Agency (WHCA). During this period he completed five deployments to Kuwait and Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
He currently serves the South Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SCSSAR) as a Registrar of the Fort Dorchester Chapter, as a member of the SCSSAR Technology Subcommittee, and as Website Administrator and Google Workspace Administrator for both the SCSSAR and the Fort Dorchester Chapter in Charleston, South Carolina.
Major Cornelius has been married to his wife Beth for 43 years, both being born and raised in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
