Colonel Huenefeld was born in Arkansas, raised in Massachusetts and enlisted in the Marine Corps in June of 1971.  After graduation from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island and Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune, he was assigned the Artillery Fire Controlman MOS.   His first FMF tour was with E/2/12, which deployed off the coast of Vietnam with BLT 2/9.  After his return to the United States in 1973 he served as a Fire Controlman in 10 th Marines, a Sgt of the Guard at Naval Prison Portsmouth New Hampshire, and as a Marine Security Guard assigned to the Detachment in Karachi, Pakistan with a follow-on assignment in Canberra, Australia.  Returning to the United States in June 1976, he was assigned to the First Field Artillery Group, 29 Palms, where he served with 1 st 155 (SP) Howitzers and the 3rd 175 Gun Battery as an Operations Chief and where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant.   In June of 1978, he was assigned to Drill Instructor School, MCRD, San Diego after which he served with 2nd BN, RTR and as a Close Combat Instructor and NCOIC of Physical Training with SPT BN, RTR.  Enroute to
MCRD he met his bride Judy and they were married in November of 1978. Between 29 Palms and San Diego he completed a Baccalaureate Degree during his off duty time and in June of 1980, was assigned to Officer Candidate School class at Quantico, Virginia.

 

Commissioned in August 1980, and completing The Basic School in March of 1981, then Lieutenant Huenefeld attended the Basic Artillery Officer Course and follow-on Nuclear Weapons Assembly Officer training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.   His first artillery assignments were in Hawaii with Kilo 1/12 and Okinawa, where he commanded HQ Battery, 3rd BN, 12 th Marines. From 1985-1988 Captain Huenefeld served as a Project Officer for Ground Systems at MCTSSA. In 1988 Captain Huenefeld was assigned to the 11th Marines where he served as the Commanding Officer of Battery F, 2 nd BN, 11 th Marines, the Regimental Personnel Officer, and finally as the Commanding Officer of the Regimental Headquarters Battery which he led though the Gulf War and the liberation of Kuwait. In July 1991, Captain Huenefeld was assigned to I MEF G-7, where he served as the Fire Support Officer at TWSEAS.  In May of 1992, he was frocked to the rank of Major and assigned as the Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Recruiting Station, San Diego.  Surviving his first three years of recruiting, in July 1995 he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia.

 

Following school, he was assigned to I MEF where he was promoted to Lt. Col. and served as the MEF Force Fires Coordinator.  In July 1999, he assumed duty as Battalion Inspector/Instructor for 1st Bn, 14th Marines at Alameda, Calif.  In August 2001, he was transferred back to MCRD San Diego where he served as the Depot Inspector and the H&S Battalion Executive Officer before his selection to his current rank. In 2002-2003 Col. Huenefeld attended the National War College in Washington, D.C. before transferring to III MEF in Okinawa where he has served as the Force Fires Coordinator and the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3.   Colonel Huenefeld returned to the United States in February 2004 to assume command of the 8 th Marine Corps District which he led until June of 2007 at which time he was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego for duty as the Chief of Staff.

 

Colonel Huenefeld is married to the former Judith Ann Lohse of Blue Island, IL, and they have three married children, Brett, Kristen, and John (a Marine LtCol currently serving in Okinawa with 3 rd MarDiv) and six grandchildren.  Colonel and Mrs. Huenefeld reside in Carlsbad California. 

 

Colonel Huenefeld formally retired from the United States Marine Corps on 31 June 2011 with 40 years and 1 day of active duty. He rejoined the ranks as a civilian employee of the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps serving as the Community Liaison for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego until his retirement from this position in July of 2021.