Lieutenant General John G. Castellaw

Last Name: Castellaw

First Name: John

Middle Name: G.
Suffix:

Nickname: Glad

Medals and Honors:

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal

• Defense Superior Service Medal

• Legion of Merit with Two Gold Stars

• 1990 Marine Aviator of the Year

• 2016 R. Clayton McWhorter Innovation Award

• 2022 Robert and Jenny Kirkland Discovery Award

• Order of Timor Leste

ACNSL Offices and Committees:

• Africa Strategic Committee

• Iran Committee

• Climate Change and Security Committee

Rank: Lieutenant General

Service/Department: United States Marine Corp

Last or Significant Assignment: Assistant Commandant for Programs and Resources (USMC)

Areas of Experience:

• INDOPACOM

• Japan

• Australia

• EUCOM

• NATO

• Russia and Eastern Europe

• Turkey

• The Balkans

• Africa

• Arms Control

• Nuclear Deterrence and Proliferation

• Foreign Development Aid

• International Public Health

Articles, Books and Publications:

• https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2022/07/14/democracy-risk-our-political-leaders-must-set-example-save-it/10048732002/  

• https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2022/03/02/ukraine-americas-wakeup-call-we-must-unite-defend-democracy/6979705001/  

• https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2020/06/09/military-serves-nation-not-president/5328159002/  

• https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2020/08/21/precision-agriculture-and-farmers-fighting-climate-change/5611912002/  

• Gen. John Castellaw discusses U.S. role in the world, impact on TN - ClarksvilleNow.com 

• Service, sacrifice and the citizen's role with John Castellaw: Video (tennessean.com)  

• Guest Column: Addressing climate change requires a coordinated effort (jacksonville.com) 

• Climate Change is a National Security Threat - IDEAS For Us  

• John G. Castellaw, Contributor | U.S. News (usnews.com) 

• John Castellaw | Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.  

• Precision agriculture and farmers are fighting climate change (tennessean.com) 

• General Castellaw on Devastating New Sea Level Rise Exposure Projections « The Center for Climate & Security (climateandsecurity.org)  

• Lt. Gen. Castellaw: Listen to Military on New START | Ploughshares  

• https://www.americansecurityproject.org/new-article-by-asp-board-member-lt-gen-john-castellaw-position-w-tenn-for-next-energy-wave/  

• https://www.c-span.org/video/?414753-101/wilmington-north-carolina-campaign-event-introduction  

Lieutenant General John “Glad” Castellaw is co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Farmspace Systems LLC., a provider of remote data collection, management, and equipment. He attended the University of Tennessee, Martin (UTM) where he graduated with a degree in Agriculture and a commission in the United States Marine Corps.

During a 36-year career he led Marines around the world, ashore and afloat, flew over two dozen different aircraft, served on a UN staff during the Siege of Sarajevo, planned and executed humanitarian operations in Asia, Africa, and Europe, commanded American forces in stability and security operations in East Timor, immediately went forward to theater as the Deputy Commander of Marine Forces Central Command following 9/11, and was the chief of staff for the U.S. Central Command at the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lieutenant General Castellaw also led 4th Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion and commanded Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 (REINFORCED), Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. His last assignments were in the Pentagon as Deputy Commandant for Aviation, overseeing Marine Aviation, and, finally, as Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, overseeing the Marine Corps budget.

Now residing near Crockett Mills, Tennessee, with his wife, Wanda, he manages his family farm and sits as a board director for the Bank of Crockett and for Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), a USAID contractor. He is a FAA certified commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote pilot in command (drone pilot).

Lieutenant General Castellaw is currently leading an interdisciplinary team developing a rapid screening capability for pathogens in humans and animals using advanced sensor technology integrated with artificial intelligence funded by the Department of Homeland Security.

A national security expert, he has testified before a Senate Foreign Relations sub-committee on food security and is affiliated with several Washington-based think tanks providing expertise on the impacts of climate, food, and energy insecurity. He frequently travels overseas visiting Cuba, Israel, Qatar, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, and Australia.

His honors, in addition to military decorations, include membership in the UTM ROTC Hall of Fame, selection as the 1990 Marine Aviator of the Year, the 2016 R. Clayton McWhorter Innovation Award and he is a 2022 recipient of the Robert and Jenny Kirkland Discovery Award. He was awarded the Order of Timor Leste (East Timor) by Prime Minister de Araujo for his service in restoring peace and security to that country.

Castellaw provides commentary for various media outlets, has appeared in a National Geographic Network series on climate security, and acted as a military adviser for a motion picture production company.