Today on AFP from Lt Col Asad "Genghis" Khan USMC about the responsibility of command for Marine Officers and NCO's - You must be willing to die for your men because they are willing to die for you. Into the Lion's Den podcast with Commander Dan O'Shea airs Friday May 1st 2026 on AFP.
Lt. Col. Asad "Genghis" Khan (Ret.) is a former Marine infantry officer and commander of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines (1/6). He is a highly decorated combat leader who led the 1/6 Battalion Landing Team (BLT) during an historic combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2004; his profile is often associated with controversy following his relief from command by the Colonel (later General) Frank McKenzie USMC.
Background and Military Service
Born in Pakistan, Khan immigrated to the United States as a child and rose through the ranks of the Marine Corps to become a lieutenant colonel. He gained notoriety for his "warrior ethos" and aggressive leadership style during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2004.
- Relief from Command: In late 2004, Khan was relieved of his command of the 1/6 Battalion Landing Team while deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The circumstances of his "sacking" were widely debated within the Marine community, with his reporting senior citing "loss of confidence" yet many others viewing him as a casualty of institutional bureaucracy and rear-echelon leadership. Khan maintained that he was targeted for challenging bureaucratic double standards and for standing against senior leaders he believed were rewarding careerism over combat truth. After clearing his name, Lt Col Khan chose to retire from the Marine Corps.
- Betrayal of Command: Following his retirement, Khan authored the book Betrayal of Command: My Marine Corps Journey Through War, Betrayal and the High Cost of Failed Military Leadership. In it, he examines what he describes as the "toxic leadership" and "failed military culture" that led to strategic failures in Afghanistan.
- Public Presence: He currently runs Sentinel360, a YouTube platform focused on national security, military accountability, and leadership.
