3rd Battalion, 1st Marines
Commanding Officer

LtCol Benjamin T. Watson

Lieutenant Colonel Watson was raised in Syracuse, New York. He attended Cornell University and upon graduation in May of 1991, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps via the NROTC program.

After completing The Basic School (TBS) and Infantry Officer Course (IOC), LtCol Watson reported to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines in Camp Lejeune, NC where he served as a Platoon Commander and Executive Officer with Company K. During this tour, LtCol Watson completed two MEU(SOC) deployments. In 1995, he received orders back to TBS where he served in the Offense Section as a Tactics Instructor, and then as an Instructor at IOC.

In 1999, LtCol Watson returned to Camp Lejeune and reported to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. He served two years as the Weapons Company Commander before assuming duties as the Battalion Operations Officer, again completing two MEU(SOC) deployments with the battalion. In 2002, LtCol Watson received orders to the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA where he served as an Instructor and Faculty Advisor.

In 2006, LtCol Watson reported to I Marine Expeditionary Force and deployed to OIF as a Future Operations Planner in the G-3. In April 2007, he was transferred to 1st Marine Division where he assumed duties as the G-3 Plans Officer. LtCol Watson subsequently assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines on 11 January, 2008.

LtCol Watson is a graduate of the Summer Mountain Leaders Course, the Amphibious Warfare School, and the Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting.