3rd Intelligence Battalion

LtCol Sherif A. Aziz
Commanding Officer, 3d Intelligence Battalion  

Sherif Aziz is from Alexandria, Egypt.  In search of the “American Dream and the Promise of America”, his family immigrated to the U.S. when he was 13.  Upon graduation from High school in Sunnyvale, CA, he enlisted in the finest fighting force to become a U.S. Marine in 1989.

After completing Boot Camp, Private Aziz was awarded the MOS of Basic Rifleman.  As an infantryman, he served as a Team Leader, Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant at Camp Pendleton, CA, The Basic School, Quantico VA and the Naval Training Center, San Diego.  He was accepted to the BOOST commissioning program in 1994 and completed his undergraduate at The George Washington University.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Middle East Studies (cum laude).

2nd Lieutenant Aziz was commissioned in May 1997 and upon completion of The Basic School, he reported for MOS training as a Signals Intelligence Officer.  At 2nd Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC, he performed duties as the Bn S-3 Training Officer, Platoon Commander, Alpha Co XO, and as the RADBN Detachment Officer in Charge 24MEU (SOC).  During his LF6F deployment, Captain Aziz deployed his Detachment to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian 00-01.  Later, Capt Aziz reported to Dam Neck, VA for the MAGTF Intel Officer Course.  Once complete, he reported to the Joint Intelligence Center, CENTCOM in 2002.

At CENTCOM, Capt Aziz served as a senior Intel analyst to the LEVANT team, Arabian Peninsula team, and Iraq Team.  Subsequently, he was designated a Foreign Area Officer for the Middle East and North Africa, experience track.  He successively deployed to Iraq, Syria, and Qatar in support of combat operations for OEF and OIF 03-04.

Capt Aziz reported to 2d MARDIV G-2 as the Productions Officer and Assistant Operations Officer in June 2005.  He deployed to Ramadi, Iraq with the Division and served through March 2006, OIF 05-06.  He returned once again to Al Anbar Province in Jan 2007-Mar 2008, OIF 07-08, serving as the II MEF FAO.  His contributions facilitated II MEF leadership efforts to stand-up the SAHWA “tribal awakening”, and inclusion of Anbari/Iraqi sons to fight Al Qaida in Iraq.

Major Aziz was promoted in Iraq in Aug 2007.  Later that year he was selected to the resident Command and Staff College at Quantico, VA.  In May 2009, he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Military Studies and was a Distinguished Graduate.

He reported for Joint Duty at CENTCOM J5 Directorate.  Major Aziz was assigned as the strategic/national policy analyst for Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula desk.  In June 2012, Major Aziz reported to MARCENT G-2 as the Plans and Operations officer, and later the Deputy AC/S G-2 MARCENT.  In August 2014, with the complex character and downward spiral of the Arab Spring, Lieutenant Colonel Aziz served as the lead Levant Contingency Planner for the AC/S G-5.  He completed successive deployments to the AOR. In June 2015, LtCol Aziz assumed command of 3D Intelligence Battalion, III MHG, III MEF.