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  • golf tournament

    6th Annual Sgt Lucas T. Pyeatt Memorial Golf Tournament

    The MCRD Museum Foundation is proud to announce that the 6th Annual Sgt Lucas T. Pyeatt Memorial Golf Tourament will be held on Saturday, 4 May 2024 at the Oaks North Golf Course, located at 12602 Oaks N Dr. San Diego, CA 92128.

  • Marine Family

    MARINE GRADUATIONS OPEN TO PUBLIC

    MCRD San Diego graduations are open to the public!
    Click below to visit the Depot's website to learn more.

  • Code Talkers Platoon

    Grad Photos and Grad Books

    The MCRD Museum Foundation maintains a collection of platoon photos, composite photos, and platoon books. 

  • Founding Fathers

    Our Mission

    Learn more about our mission to provide an educational setting for Marines & recruits, support the Command, and serve as a bridge to the local community.

  • Museum and Foundaton Programs

    Our Programs

    The MCRD Command Museum provides free programming to school groups and scouting groups which teach Core Values in a historic setting. We also serve active duty, veterans, and families through outreach programs that strengthen our local community.

  • MCRD Museum Docents

    Get Involved

    Help preserve and perpetuate Marine Corps history. Become a member, volunteer, or donate today. If you enjoy Marine Corps history, you will be forever moved by this experience!

  • Recruit Gear

    Show Your Pride

    Shop for your USMC gear here! All proceeds directly support the Museum and its programs for Marines and veterans.

  • sentry
  • gate
  • colors
  • semper fi
  • parade

Ms. Tia Ballard - Director

T BallardMs. Ballard is currently Director of IT at San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), headquartered in San Diego, California.  SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides energy service to 3.6 million people through 1.4 million electric meters and 873,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. SDG&E service area spans 4,100 square miles.  Ms. Ballard currently leads the IT organization in CyberSecurity Engineering, Architecture and Operations ensuring protection of company assets and data, as well as overall enterprise end user strategy, governance, operations and support.  She has been with SDG&E for the last 16 years and providing IT infrastructure technology management for over 25 years. 

Ms. Ballard enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1992 and attended Boot Camp at Parris Island, South Carolina.  Upon completion of recruit training, she attended programming school at Quantico, VA.  She is a 3rd generation Marine, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, grandmother and father.  She also served alongside her brother.  Her tours included active duty roles at Camp Kinser in Okinawa, and 9th Communication Battalion and I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. Ms. Ballard has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Pepperdine University, and a Master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University.   She resides with her daughter Isabella in San Diego, CA

JOANIE SCHWARZ-WETTER
Museum Director

(619) 524-6719
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VINCENT GONZALEZ
EXHIBITS SPECIALIST

(619) 524-8159
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JOHN VAZQUEZ
Education Director

(619) 524-6038
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ELLEN GUILLEMETTE
HISTORIAN

(619) 524-6720

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Our Staff

Our Board of Directors come from a variety of backgrounds, but one thing unites them all, a passion for preserving and perpetuating the history of the United States Marine Corps. Many who serve on our Board have a strong connection with the Marine Corps Recruit Depot having drilled on the grinder, been stationed aboard the Depot, or felt the local impact of Marines in San Diego.

Foundation Board

Working Together to Promote Marine Corps Values

The Museum Foundation is fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate staff who work closely with the Museum staff and Depot leadership to support programs, exhibit upgrades, and outreach efforts. To get in touch with a Foundation staff member, please call the Foundation office at 619-524-4426 or contact us by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


KEY STAFF
Executive Director
Daren Erickson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Deputy Executive Director
Angela Kuhn This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Director of Programs and Philanthropy
Alyssa Christensen This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

Donor WallDonor Wall

Foundation Staff