Brigadier General Niebel is a native of Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 1989 and was commissioned through the Officer Candidates Course program in 1992. Following his initial training as a Combat Engineer Officer, he held a variety of billets in the Fleet Marine Force, supporting establishment and the joint community.
His Fleet Marine Force assignments include Platoon and Company Commander at 7th Engineer Support Battalion; Engineer Detachment Commander for MEU Service Support Group-11 (Operation’s Southern Watch and Vigilant Sentinel); Engineer Support Element Officer for 1st Force Service Support Group; Company Commander, Assistant Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer for 2d Combat Engineer Battalion; Deputy Counter Improvised Explosive Device Division for II MEF Forward (Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08); Commanding Officer of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion (Operation Enduring Freedom 10.2 and 12.1); Commanding Officer of Combat Logistics Regiment-27, and Chief of Staff for 2d Marine Logistics Group.
His other assignments include Command Section lead, Company Commander, and Assistant Operations Officer for The Basic School; J-4 Engineer Plans Officer and Exercise Related Construction Program Manager for United States Pacific Command; Senior Fellow in the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group (34) in Newport, RI; and Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Installations Command, HQMC at the Pentagon.
He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Naval War College, and United Kingdom’s Higher Command and Staff Course. He holds master’s degrees in Organizational Management, and National Security and Strategic Studies.