Department of Texas Marine Corps League

Colonel Poletti and his wife Kathleen reside in Bastrop, Tx. They have two children, Amanda Kate and Andrew Evan, Sgt, USMC, and three grandkids.

Colonel Tony Poletti was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Officer Candidate Program in 1978 at Quantico, Virginia. In 1979, he graduated from The Basic School as a Motor Transport Officer, he reported to his first assignment in Okinawa, Japan with 3RD Battalion, 4TH Marines, 3RD Marine Division (MARDIV). Colonel Poletti served as the Battalion Landing Team Motor Transport Officer, Asst Embarkation Officer, and a Platoon Leader in Headquarters and Service Company.

In Aug of 1980, he reported to 1ST Force Service Support Group (FSSG) at Camp Pendleton, Ca and was promoted to First Lieutenant. He was assigned to 7TH Motor Transport Battalion as the Fuels Platoon Leader, then Executive Officer for Transport Company, then the Battalion Maintenance Management Officer, and Logistics Officer. Poletti was later selected as the Group Staff Secretary to the Commanding General of 1ST FSSG.

In 1981, he transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Schools Battalion and became the Executive Officer and Academics Officer at the Motor Transport Schools (West Coast). In 1982, he transferred to 1ST MARDIV, Camp Pendleton, Ca and was assigned to as the Executive Officer for Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion. Colonel Poletti was promoted to Captain in 1983 and assumed Command until his release his release from Active Duty in Nov 1983.

In 1985, Poletti joined the Selected Marine Corps Reserves and reported to 2ND Battalion, 23RD Marines, 4TH MARDIV in Encino, Ca and served as the Battalion Motor Transport Officer. Colonel Poletti then transferred to 4TH Tank Battalion, 4TH MARDIV at Miramar Air Station, San Diego, Ca in 1987. Duties include the Battalion Motor Transport Officer, Maintenance Management Officer, and the Tank Maintenance Officer. During 1990, he was mobilized with the Battalion and deployed to 29 Palms, Ca to reconstitute the Battalion in preparation for deployment to Kuwait. In May 1991, he demobilized and was promoted to the rank of Major. Later that same year, he transferred to 5TH Battalion, 14TH Marines, 4TH MARDIV and was assigned as the Headquarters Battery Commander.

Poletti returned to 4TH Tank Battalion in 1993 and served as the S-4 Logistics Officer, and in December of 1996 he transferred to 3RD Civil Affairs Group Camp Pendleton, CA and served as the Psychological Det Officer-in-Charge, and Asst S-3 Operations Officer. During this tour, he participated in several operations in South Korea and St Lucia, West Indies.

In June 1998, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and transferred to 4TH FSSG (Forward West) at Camp Pendleton, CA and served as the Operations Officer. Working closely with the 1ST FSSG in the G-4 Branch (Logistics) as the Reserve G-4. Later as the G-3 Branch (Operations) as the Reserve G-3. He returned to Active Duty the summer months to support operational requirements during the summer 1ST FSSG Officers’ rotations in addition to participating in several operations in South Korea.

In Aug 2001, Poletti transferred to the Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) Command, Camp Smith, HI and on September 12, was called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His billets included Current Operations Officer, Crisis Action Team Cell Supervisor, G-4 Pacific Command Reserve Branch Head and Reserve Deputy G-4. Colonel Poletti also represented the MARFORPAC G-4 as the Liaison to the Pacific Command CINC J-4 Staff. Upon completion of twelve months, he returned to California and was demobilized, Aug 2002.

Colonel Poletti was again mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sept 2002. He was assigned to 1ST FSSG as a Combat Service Support Officer. In January of 2003, he arrived at Camp Coyote, Kuwait as a Plans Officer and began working on the Operation Plans as 1ST FSSG prepared to support combat operations for I Marine Expeditionary Force. Colonel Poletti entered Iraq; March 2003 supported operations in Jaliyah, An Nasinyah, Ad Diwaniyah, and Al Hillah. Upon Colonel Poletti’s return to California, he was demobilized Oct 2004.

Colonel Poletti was promoted to his present rank in 2004 and was assigned to the 4th Marine Logistic Group, Marine Forces Reserves, New Orleans, La as a Combat Service Support Officer in the G-3 as a Future Plans Officer. Colonel Poletti retired in October 2007 with thirty years of service.

Colonel Poletti’s professional military education includes Reserve Amphibious Warfare School, Reserve Command and Staff College, Reserve Component National Security Courses, and Top-Level Professional Military Officer Education at the Army War College.

Concurrently, in 1989, Colonel Poletti began his teaching career in the Corona-Norco Unified School District at the Corna Fundamental Middle School until 1996. He transferred to Santiago High School and taught there until 2007. He became a School Administrator in 2007 and worked in the Chino Valley Unified School District until his retirement in 2015.

Colonel Poletti earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Education from South West Texas State University, San Marcos, Tx, a Master’s in Business Administration from Webster University, Camp Pendleton, Ca, a Master’s in Education Administration from California State University, San Bernardino, Ca, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies, Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.

Colonel Poletti’s personal awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation, and Navy-Marine Corps Achievement medal.