Jonathan Wong
Office: (310) 393-0411 x6866  Cell: (858) 717-0463
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jonwong@prgs.edu
Summary of Experience
Doctoral Fellow, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Contributor, The Capitol Column
HQMC Enlisted Assignments Special Projects Officer
HQMC Enlisted Special Duty Assignments Unit Head
HQMC Enlisted Combat Arms Assignments Asst Unit Head
Mortar Platoon Commander and Governance Officer
Infantry Platoon Commander
Enlisted Marine Infantryman
2012- Present
2012
2011
2009-2011
2009
2007-2009
2006-2007
2001-2005
Education
Ph.D. Candidate, Pardee RAND Graduate School
2012-Present
M.A., Security Studies, Georgetown University
2011
B.A., Political Science, University of California San Diego
2005
Proficiencies and Qualifications
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DoN Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified
Formally trained in battalion-level indirect fire support coordination and fire support planning
Intermediate skills in Microsoft Excel, including manipulation of large databases (186,000+ records)
using macros and equations and summarization of data using pivot tables and graphics.
Moderate speaking and listening skills in Chinese (Cantonese) with potential to quickly reach
fluency
SECRET security clearance
Experience Details
Contributor, The Capitol Column (2012): Wrote daily 500-700 word news summaries, content
aggregation, and analysis pieces on political and world news for web publication
HQMC Enlisted Assignments Special Project Officer (2011): Responsible for streamlining business
processes for all enlisted assignment and retention units within HQMC by applying Lean and Six Sigma
practices.
 Improved manpower data management procedures and established new standard operating
procedures that resulted in a 21% reduction in mis-joined Marines.
 Reduced re-enlistment processing backlogs that resulting in an average wait time reduction from
18 days to 10 days from submission to final decision.
HQMC Enlisted Special Duty Assignments Unit Head (2009-2011): Responsible for leading a staff of five
senior non-commissioned officers in recruiting, screening, and assigning all Marine Corps recruiters, drill
instructors, combat instructors, embassy security guards, nuclear weapons guards, Congressional Fellows,
and NROTC staff.
 Led an enterprise-wide shift from volunteer staffing of special duty assignments to a directed
staffing model that screened and interviewed over 42,000 Marines at 14 locations worldwide semiannually, resulting in a 95% fulfillment of staffing requirements.
 Developed Excel-based forecasting tools that improved visibility of potential manpower shortfalls
and provided a 30% more accurate assessment of how well managers were meeting requirements.
HQMC Enlisted Combat Arms Assignments Assistant Head (2009): Second-in-command of a staff of 18
senior non-commissioned officers that managed the assignments of over 90,000 combat arms Marines,
with emphasis on ensuring that deploying units achieved 95% of staffing goals at specified milestones.
 Successfully staffed over 26 battalion-sized units preparing for deployment within specified goals
and timelines.
Mortar Platoon Commander and Governance Officer (2007-2009): Led a unit of over 64 Marines and
sailors dual-tasked as an indirect fire asset and motored infantry unit while also being tasked to assist DoS
reconstruction programs.
 Assisted district-level Iraqi officials in al Anbar Province, Iraq in improving municipal government
processes, municipal budget planning, development project management, coordinating detainee
release and civic reconciliation ceremonies.
 Consulted for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to improve mortar training procedures for
two AFP mortar platoons.
Infantry Platoon Commander (2006-2007): Led a unit of 43 Marines. Developed training regimens and
assisted in planning and executing numerous bilateral exercises with allied militaries.
 Served as lead platoon commander for a major US/Australian for the final exercise during a major
US-Australian bilateral training exercise (TALISMAN SABER).
Enlisted Infantryman (2001-2005): Served in positions of increasing responsibility, from automatic
rifleman to fire team leader.
 Automatic rifleman during Operation Iraqi Freedom I
 Served as property manager for a $40.2m rifle company account during multilateral exercises in
Bornholm, Denmark.
Honors and Awards
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Military awards include the Navy Achievement Medal for meritorious service in Iraq, Navy
Commendation Medal for meritorious service in Iraq and in the Western Pacific
Honorable Mention in the 2010 Marine Corps Gazette Leadership Writing Contest
Publications
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Jonathan Wong," Politics and Professionalism: A Cautionary Note." Marine Corps Gazette 94.12
(2010): 69-70. Print.
Jonathan Wong, "On War and Waves." Web log post. VAntage Point. US Dept of Veterans Affairs, 7
Mar. 2012. Web.
“The Public and the Iraq Counterinsurgency Campaign: A Study of Elite Debates and Elite Cues”,
M.A. thesis
Various news articles for The Capitol Column.