Major General Conant is presently serving as the Director for Strategic Planning and Policy (J5), U.S. Pacific Command. He is a former resident of Jackson, Michigan and a 1975 graduate of Central Michigan University (BSBA) and The Platoon Leaders Course. He graduated from The Basic School in 1976 and subsequently was designated a Naval Aviator in 1977. He has a Masters of Military Studies (MMS) in Defense Management (Program and Acquisition Management) from American Military University. Major General Conant was selected for combat qualification training in the AH-1 Cobra Helicopter and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 29 (MAG-29) for his initial fleet duty from 1977 to 1981. He completed his AH-1J Attack Helicopter Commander qualification training with HMA-269 in 1978. His company grade assignments were with HMA-269, MAG-29 (Embarkation Officer, Logistics Officer, and HMA Training Element Instructor); HMH-362, 24th MAU (Embarkation Officer); HMM-162, MAG-26 (Embarkation Officer); MAG-26 (Human Relations Officer, Assistant S-1, and MAG Adjutant); HML-767, MAG-46 Det B, (Schedule Writer and Logistics Officer); HMLA-267, MAG-39 (Adjutant, Assistant S-1, and Aviation Safety Officer). Major General Conant's subsequent fleet tours as a field grade officer included duty with MAG-26 (Administrative Officer); HMLA-167, MAG-26 (LF6F Detachment Officer in Charge, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer); HMM-261(REIN), 22nd MEU(SOC) (Executive Officer and Director Safety and Standardization and HMM-266(REIN), 24th MEU(SOC) (AH-1W Detachment Officer in Charge). Major General Conant's staff tours have been as a Company Grade Rotary Wing Monitor, HQMC; Aide-de-Camp, Commanding General MARFORLANT/II MEF; Faculty Advisor and Instructor, USMC Command and Staff College; Land and Littoral Warfare Assessment Division Chief/ Land and Littoral Joint Warfighting Capabilities Assessment Team Lead, J-8, JCS; Branch Head Aviation Plans, Programs and Budget, Department of Aviation, HQMC; Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Department of Aviation, HQMC; Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, HQMC; and Director of the Capabilities Development Directorate, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. He has commanded HMLA-167 (MAG-26, 2nd MAW, II MEF), Marine Aircraft Group 36 (1st MAW, III MEF), served as Commanding General of Training Command, and Deputy Commanding General of Training and Education Command. Major General Conant has participated in various operations overseas to include, evacuation of Liberia (Operation Sharp Edge), contingency operations in Haiti (Operation Support Democracy) and peacekeeping operations in Somalia (Operation Restore Hope and UNOSOM). Major General Conant is a graduate of the USMC Amphibious Warfare School, USMC Command and Staff College and the Marine Corps War College.