Charles D. “Chuck” Melson served as the Chief Historian for the U.S. Marine Corps, at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps in Washington, DC, and the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. For some 23 years he wrote, co-authored, or edited official publications and series. Chuck was also a joint historian with the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. His military service included 25 years as a U.S. Marine. He received the General Edwin Simmons-Henry Shaw Award for public historians and the General Leonard Chapman Medal for professional military educators.