Colonel Hermesmann currently serves as the Chief of Staff, Marine Forces Reserve, New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a graduate, with honors, of Rutgers University. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1985.
While on active duty he served as a Company Commander, Series Officer, Special Assistant United States Attorney, Trial Counsel on behalf of the U.S. Government, and Defense Counsel. In May 1991 he was discharged from active duty. He next served with 6th Motor Transport Battalion, 4th FSSG, Red Bank, New Jersey. He initially served as Assistant Operations Officer. From 1996 until 2000 he served as the Operations Officer for 6th Motor Transport Battalion. From September 2000 until June 2002 he served as the Executive Officer for 6th Motor Transport Battalion. In June 2002 he assumed command of 6th Motor Transport Battalion. In January 2003 he was activated in support of the Global War on Terrorism. He served as Battalion Commander for 6th Motor Transport Battalion, “The Baghdad Express”, in combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was discharged from active duty in August 2003, and continued to serve as Battalion Commander with 6th Motor Transport Battalion until June 2004. Colonel Hermesmann was next assigned as a Senior MORDT Inspector for Marine Corps Mobilization Command, Kansas City, Missouri, where he served until October 2005. He then served as the Future Operations Officer, 4th MLG, until January 2007. In January 2007 he assumed command of 4th Marine Logistics Group, Forward East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In June 2008 he relinquished command, and was assigned as the AC/S, G-3/5, 4th Marine Logistics Group. He next served as the Deputy Commander, 4th MLG, from in August 2010 until July 2012. In July 2012 he was activated and assigned as Vice Chief of Staff, Marine Forces Reserve. He assumed his current duties as Chief of Staff, Marine Forces Reserve, in December 2012.
Colonel Hermesmann has also earned a Juris Doctorate degree from The University of Toledo College of Law, and a Masters of Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College. He is also a graduate of The Basic School, Naval Justice School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and Joint Forces Staff College.
Colonel Hermesmann’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal with gold star, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal – Expeditionary, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.