Major (Maj) Orlando L. Higgins is currently the commanding officer, Military Police Instruction Company, Director Marine Corps Military Police School, Director Interservice Nonlethal Individual Weapons Instructor Course, Marine Corps Detachment, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
Maj. Higgins is a 1992 graduate from William Chrisman High in Independence Missouri. While serving on active duty he received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Park University, Parkville, Missouri May 6, 2006. On August 10, 2007 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. His formal military education includes Military Police School (1992), Military Police Investigator School (1995), Sergeants Course (1996), USMC Formal School Instructor Course (2000), Staff Non-commission Officer’s Career Course (2002), Antiterrorism Program Manager Course (2004), Conventional Physical Security/Crime Prevention Course (2004), Officer Candidate School (2007), The Basic School (2008), Military Police Officer Basic Course (2008), Domestic Violence Intervention Course (2012), Antiterrorism Officer Basic (2012), Expeditionary Warfare School (2012), and College of Naval Command and Staff (2018) receiving a Master of Arts in Defense Strategic Studies.
Maj. Higgins enlisted in the Marine Corps during May 1992 and attended Basic Recruit Training with 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon completion of recruit training, Private First Class (Pfc) Higgins reported to Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton California. Upon completing Marine Combat Training, Pfc. Higgins was transferred to Military Police School, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Upon Completion of Military Police School, Lance Corporal Higgins served as a Military Police Officer with Third Marine Division at Camp Courtney, Okinawa Japan. There he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal. Upon completion of his tour of duty in Okinawa he served as Military Police Desk Sergeant and Watch Commander with Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, Arlington Virginia. There he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant (Sgt). Upon completion of his tour in Virginia, Sgt. Higgins served as Military Police Watch Commander with Headquarters Service Squadron, at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort South Carolina.; there he deployed to Aviano Italy with Marine Wing Support Squadron-273 where he served as Military Police Provost Sergeant. Upon completion of his tour in Italy, Sgt. Higgins deployed to Port-au-Prince Haiti, where he served as driver and provided protective services for the United States Support Group Commander. Upon returning to the United States Sgt. Higgins was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) and attended the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training program at Naval Education and Training Command in Newport Rhode Island. SSgt. Higgins then served as Platoon Sergeant for Military Police North District Okinawa Japan. While assigned to North district he deployed to East Timor where he served as Force Protection Officer and Military Police Detachment Staff Non-commission Officer In Charge for the United States Support Group East Timor. Upon returning to Okinawa Japan, SSgt. Higgins was assigned to Military Police/Nuclear Biological Instruction Company, Marine Corps Detachment Fort Leonard Wood Missouri. While there he served as a Military Police instructor for basic entry level Marines and Soldiers where he was recognized and awarded instructor of the year. SSgt. Higgins was then transferred to Second Military Police Battalion, Second Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from which he was deployed to Djibouti, Africa. There he served as the Antiterrorism Force Protection Chief for Camp Lemonier. Upon completion of his tour in Djibouti SSgt. Higgins was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. There he served as the Criminal Investigator for Camp Fallujah. Upon completion of his tour in Iraq he returned to Second Military Police Battalion, Second Marine Logistic Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. There he served as Company Gunnery Sergeant for Alpha Company. GySgt. Higgins soon deployed back to Iraq with Headquarters Battalion, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), where he served as Multinational Forces-West Physical Security Chief. Upon selection for the Enlisted Commissioning Program, GySgt. Higgins redeployed to the states and attended Officer Candidates School in Quantico Virginia. After completing Officer Candidates School, Lt. Higgins was transferred to Fox Company, The Basic School, Quantico Virginia. Upon completions of The Basic School Lt Higgins attended the Military Police Officer Basic Course, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon completion of the Military Police Officer Basic Course Lt Higgins was transferred to assignment serving as Platoon Commander and Future Plans Officer, Military Police Company, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was then selected to serve as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General Marine Corps Installations East, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Upon completion of his tour as an aide, Capt Higgins attended the Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps University, Quantico Virginia. He was then assigned as the company commander for Headquarters and Support Company, 2ndLaw Enforcement Battalion, II Marine Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune North Carolina. While there he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Anti-terrorism Force Protection Office for II Marine Expeditionary Force Forward command element. Upon completion of his tour with 2ndLaw Enforcement Battalion, Capt. Higgins was assigned as the operational forces (OpFor) operations officer with Law Enforcement and Corrections Branch, Security Division (PS), Plans, Policies, and Operations (PP&O), Headquarters Marine Corps, Pentagon, Washington DC. Maj. Higgins was then selected to attend the College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island. Maj. Higgins assumed his current command on July 11, 2018.
His personal decorations include: the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award).