Today we welcome Lieutenant General Dave Bellon as the newly elected Chairman of the Board of Directors for Marine Toys for Tots Foundation effective 1 August 2025.

His exemplary service and leadership in the United States Marine Corps brings immense value to our mission of providing joy and hope to children in need.

Lieutenant General Bellon—a native of Fort Polk, Louisiana, and St. Louis, Missouri, and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law—has had a remarkable career since being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1989. He began his service as an Infantry Officer with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and later served as a Judge Advocate with the 1st Force Service Support Group.

In 1997, he transitioned to the Selected Marine Corps Reserve, where he served six years with the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and as a civilian, he founded his own law firm in 1999.

Following the devastation of 9/11, he returned to active duty, undertaking four combat tours in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). Throughout his four combat tours, LtGen Bellon served as the Operations Officer for 4th LAR, Intelligence Officer for Regimental Combat Team 1, and Commander of Battalion Task Force 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment.

In 2008, LtGen Bellon was selected as the Marine Corps Reserves representative in a full-time student status attending Top Level School at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. While there, he was promoted to Colonel and in September 2009, he was deployed to Afghanistan with the British 6th Division and served as the Chief of Operations for Southern Afghanistan during NATO’s 2010 surge of forces.

Promoted to Brigadier General in 2013, Lieutenant General Bellon has held several key positions, including Deputy Commander (Mobilization) 1st Marine Expeditionary Force; Deputy Marine Forces Command; Director Reserve Affairs, and Commander Marine Forces, South; and Director of Strategy, Policy, and Plans
(J5) U.S. Southern Command. He was then promoted to the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South.

“Lieutenant General Bellon’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision will be tremendous assets to our Board,” said Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “His commitment to service exemplifies the values that drive our mission to support children in need across the Nation.”

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation looks forward to the valuable contributions Lieutenant General Bellon will bring to our efforts to deliver hope and joy to millions of disadvantaged children each year.