Colonel Albert "Al" DeWitt
Commander 1st Regiment
Tennessee State Guard

    Colonel DeWitt is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Colonel (Retired), and Vietnam era veteran. He was recently commissioned as a colonel in the Tennessee State Guard in July 2008, and held assignment as Operations Advisor to the 1st Regiment. He was recently appointed as the Commanding Officer, 1st Regiment.

    Colonel DeWitt was born in Vardaman, Calhoun County, Mississippi, and raised in Memphis, TN. He is a 1965 graduate of Kingsbury High School, Memphis, TN. While attending Memphis State University, he joined the Marine Corps as an officer candidate in 1969, through the Platoon Leaders Class Program. After graduation from Memphis State University in 1970, and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, he attended The Basic School at Quantico, VA, and Basic Communication Officer's Course. He served with 8th Communication Batallion, FMFLant, Camp Lejeune, NC.

    After three (3) years of active duty, he returned to Memphis, and joined the active Marine Corps Reserve, and served with Memphis area Marine Reserve units including the 4th Marine Division's infantry company on Jackson Avenue in Memphis with billets as platoon leader, exeutive officer, and commanding officer. Later assigned to the 4th Marine Air Wing's unit at the former NAS Millington, Memphis, with billets as operations officer, commanding officer, and staff officer for 4th MAW, before retiring in 1994.

    Colonel DeWitt has earned a BA degree from Memphis State University, having majored in Radio, TV, and Film, and later, Criminal Justice. His additonal military education includes Navy/Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare Non-resident Course, and Navy/Marine Corps Command and Staff Non-resident Course.

    His military awards include the Nation Defense Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

    Colonel DeWitt lives in Bartlett, TN, and is married to the former Joyce M. Joyner of Memphis, TN. They have three (3) children, Major Kevin B. DeWitt, (USMC), Amy Morgan and Stephen DeWitt of Bartlett, TN., and nine (9) grandchildren.

    He recently retired as a Captain after serving 33 years with the Memphis Police Department, Memphis, TN. He served as a Patrol Officer in Uniform Patrol and Internal Affairs. After promotion to Sergeant, he held various assignments in Special Traffic Investigation Squad, Felony Response Bureau, General Assignment Bureau, and the Homicide Bureau. After promotion to Lieutenant, he served as a shift supervisor in Uniform Patrol at the West Precinct and Northeast Precinct until his retirement in 2008.