LtCol Siebrand H. Niewenhous IV
Commanding Officer, CLB-31
LtCol Niewenhous received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in May 1996 through the Platoon Leaders Class Program. Upon graduation from the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, he spent time as a flight student before graduating from the Logistics Officers Course. From January to August 1999, LtCol Niewenhous served as 5th Marines Regimental Motor Transport Officer. From August 1999 to March 2001, he served as the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines S-4 Officer, Motor Transport Officer, and Headquarters and Service Company Commander. During his tour, LtCol Niewenhous deployed with the battalion in support of OPERATION WILDFIRE in Idaho. From March to June 2001, LtCol Niewenhous served as the 5th Marines Regimental S-4 Alpha.
From July 2001 to June 2002, LtCol Niewenhous served as the 9th Communication Battalion S-4 Officer.
From July 2002 to July 2004, LtCol Niewenhous served as the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company S-4 Officer, deploying twice to Iraq for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM I and II. While at 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, LtCol Niewenhous attended U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was recognized as the Officer Honor Graduate for his class. LtCol Niewenhous subsequently earned his Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia at 1st Force.
In August 2004, LtCol Niewenhous reported to Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation in May 2005, he was named the Logistics Honor Graduate for his class. Following completion of school, LtCol Niewenhous served as a platoon commander at Officer Candidate School from May to July, 2005.
In August 2005, LtCol Niewenhous was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Installations and Logistics where he served as an action officer and Aide de Camp for the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Transition Team and Aide de Camp for the Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics, until June 2008.
From July 2008 to July 2012, LtCol Niewenhous served as the S-4 Officer for two WESTPAC deployments with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU).
From August 2012 to July 2015, LtCol Niewenhous served at the Pentagon with Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policies, and Operations as the Section Head for Prepositioning Programs and the Deputy Branch Head for the Expeditionary Policies Branch.
From August 2015 to April 2016, LtCol Niewenhous served as the G-3 Operations Officer for 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG).
LtCol Niewenhous received his undergraduate degree from California State University, Chico, in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is currently working on his Master’s Degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence Agency. He is also a 2013-2014 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow.
LtCol Niewenhous is married to the former Meredith Ellen Metzler of Clearwater, Florida, and they have a daughter, Katie, and a second child due in June 2016. His personal decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal (with two gold stars), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.