Rear Admiral Marshall E. Gilbert assumed the duties of Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District in May 1990 [as his last active-duty assignment]. He also [served] as the Commander of the Central California Sector of the U.S. Maritime Defense Zone, Pacific.
Rear Admiral Gilbert served as Resource Director/Comptroller of the United States Coast Guard at Headquarters, Washington, D.C., from 1988 to 1990. He was Chief of the Office of Boating, Public and Consumer Affairs at Coast Guard Headquarters from 1987 to 1988. He served as Chief, Office of Research and Development at Headquarters from 1986 to 1987.
Earlier assignments were Chief of Staff, Twelfth Coast Guard District from July 1985 to July 1986; Deputy Chief, Office of Command, Control and Communications at Coast Guard Headquarters from July 1984 to May 1985; Chief Plans and Policy Division from July 1982 to July 1984; and Chief of Coast Guard Telecommunications from July 1981 to July 1982.
Rear Admiral Gilbert was the U.S. representative to the Radio Communications Subcommittee of the International Maritime Organization and senior technical advisor for the U.S. Delegation to the 1983 World Administrative Radio Conference.
He was Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cape Knox, Loran Station Bataan in the Philippines and Commander, Coast Guard Group St. Petersburg, Florida. He also commanded patrol boats during the Coast Guard's initial deployment to Vietnam, in 1965.
Rear Admiral Gilbert received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, in 1958. He earned a Master's degree in communications engineering from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1973. He also attended the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, and the U.S. Army War college. Rear Admiral Gilbert's awards include the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Bronze Star, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He [was] a native of Thomaston, Georgia. He [was] married to the former Melinda A. of Waterford, Connecticut. They [had] three children; Pamela Kennedy, Marshall Jr. and Sabrina.
Rear Admiral Gilbert crossed the bar on 4 June 2020.