Major General William Mullen, a retired Marine leader who commanded troops in Iraq and served as a personal aide to former President Bill Clinton, passed away over the weekend at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, a base he once led. He was 59 years old.
Mullen retired in 2020 after a distinguished 34-year career that included deployments in the former Yugoslavia and Iraq. His body was discovered at Building 1651 on the Twentynine Palms base, with his residence listed in Arvada, Colorado, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s report.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is investigating Mullen’s death, standard protocol for noncombat fatalities involving military personnel or installations. Officials from NCIS declined to comment further on the ongoing investigation.
Located in the Mojave Desert’s Morongo Basin, Twentynine Palms experienced extreme heat with daily temperatures surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit and expected to rise above 117 degrees during the week. Prior to his retirement, Mullen served as the commanding general of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, overseeing operations at Twentynine Palms.
Mullen graduated from Marquette University in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, later earning a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. Throughout his career, he held various leadership roles, including commanding Marine forces in Fallujah and coordinating artillery support during Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.
Twentynine Palms, the largest Marine base in the U.S., spans nearly 1,000 square miles near Joshua Tree National Park. Known as “the premier combat training center,” it hosts around 20,000 Marines and sailors stationed there, with an additional 50,000 troops training annually. The base’s facilities, including the expansive “Combat Town,” simulate Middle Eastern environments for combat training.
Major General Thomas Savage, current commander of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, expressed condolences to Mullen’s family and friends, praising Mullen’s dedicated service to the nation and the Marine Corps.
Mullen’s legacy as a respected leader and his contributions to military training and operations will be remembered by those who served alongside him.