Colonel Roe S. Lemons Jr. is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas. He is the son of a Korean War Soldier. He graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Exercise Science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in February 2002. After completing The Basic School, he attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Colonel Lemons’ command and leadership billets include: Headquarters Platoon Commander, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines (2005-2006); Executive Officer and Guns Platoon Commander, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines (2006-2007); Fire Power Control Team Leader, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) (2008); Supporting Arms Liaison Team Leader, 1st ANGLICO (2010); Battery Commander, Battery K, 3d Battalion, 10th Marines (2012-2013); Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines (2020-2022).
His staff assignments include: Current Operations Officer (S-3), Regimental Combat Team 8 (2011); Assistant Fire Support Coordinator (S-3), 8th Marines (2013); Fires and Operations Advisor (G-3), Operations Coordination Center-Regional (OCC-R), Helmand Province, Afghanistan (2013); Assistant Operations Officer (S-3), 10th Marines (2014); Faculty Advisor, Expeditionary Warfare School (2014-2016); Assistant Fire Support Coordinator (G-3), 1st Marine Division (2017); Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines (2018); Deputy Chief of Operations (CJ-33), Combined Joint Task Force – OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE (2019); Operations Officer (CJ-3), Combined Joint Operations Center, Akcakale, Turkey (2019); Division Chief and Joint Strategist, Joint Force Development Team, The Joint Staff (J-7) (2023-2025). Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations Officer (G3) 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2025-2026). Chief of Staff, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2026-Current)
Colonel Lemons’ operational deployments include OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (Afghanistan, 2005-2006, 2010, 2011, 2013); OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (Iraq, 2007, 2008); OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE (2019)
His professional military education includes: The Basic School, the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, The Eisenhower School at the National Defense University. He holds master’s degrees in military studies and National Resource Strategy.
Colonel Lemons’ personal military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with combat “V,” Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of 2nd award, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of 4th award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He is a qualified Parachutist and Joint Terminal Attack Controller.