Lieutenant Colonel Asad Khan USMC (Ret.) graduated from Avon Old Farms School in 1978 and attended Babson College earning a degree in business. Subsequently joining the US Marine Corps and completing officer training, Asad was an infantry platoon commander and a company executive officer with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. In 1988, he served as a company commander with 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, training over 5,000 Marine recruits. ​ In 1992, Asad graduated with honors from the Amphibious Warfare School and served as an advisor to the Saudi Marines. Following this, Asad served with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines as a company commander, operations and executive officer. In 1997, graduating with distinction from the Naval War College, Asad was one of sixteen officers selected to attend the School of Advanced Warfighting. Asad coauthored two publications widely used in the Marine Corps: Marine Corps Operations and Marine Corps Planning Process. He also served on the board of the Marine Corps Gazette, the professional journal of Marines. ​ Immediately following September 11, 2001, Asad conducted special missions within Pakistan and Afghanistan and subsequently commanded 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. In 2004, Asad once again deployed to Afghanistan with his battalion. This special operations unit of over 1,700 Marines and Afghan Militia became renowned for fighting in the remote high mountains of Afghanistan. The most telling description of the battalion’s success came from the Commanding General, Major General Eric Olson: “You Marines went places that have never seen an American - proving to the world that the United States is going to take this fight to the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan unafraid and absolutely determined. You went to find him on his turf, on his terms…” After serving as a Marine for over twenty years, Asad retired in 2004 and works with various government agencies and industry leaders.