Honoring 250 Years of the Marine Corps: A Conversation with Harold “Odie” VanOpdorp of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

by Leslie Parsons

Just days after our nation celebrated the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the True North Foundation is proud to highlight one of our remarkable nonprofit partners: the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF).

For more than 60 years, MCSF has ensured that the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen receive access to life-changing educational opportunities. And at the heart of that mission is Harold “Odie” VanOpdorp, the Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer and a retired Marine colonel whose humility is as striking as his service.

“I’m just an average, happy-go-lucky Marine,” he says with a smile—an understatement from someone who dedicated 30 years to the Corps.

VanOpdorp’s Marine Corps journey began the day before he graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he attended on an ROTC scholarship. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, he quickly discovered that wearing the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor was more than a job. “Marine isn’t what I did,” he says. “It’s who I was.”

A Lifetime of Service—and a Unique Transition

After three decades in uniform, VanOpdorp retired as a colonel. But his transition to civilian life was anything but traditional. He describes it as a “half-transition” because he stepped immediately into a familiar world as Chief of Staff for the Secretary of the Navy. “I was doing work very similar to what I’d done in the Marines, with many of the same people,” he recalls, adding that it felt like a continuation rather than a full step into civilian life.

That experience shaped the advice he now shares with Marines preparing to transition: energize your network.

VanOpdorp emphasizes that the first step is internal: take the time to think deeply about what you truly want to do. Once you have that clarity, talk to people you respect in that space. They’ll give you the clearest guidance.

He also recommends reaching out to people you know—both in and out of the service—who can help you understand the landscape, make connections, and often open doors you didn’t even know existed.

A New Mission: Taking Care of Marines Through Education

In August 2021, VanOpdorp took on a new challenge—one he describes as both humbling and energizing. He joined MCSF as Chief Operating Officer. The decision represented a meaningful departure from his comfort zone, but the mission felt deeply familiar: taking care of Marines and their families.

Under his leadership, the Foundation continues to expand its impact, helping thousands of military children pursue their dreams through higher education. The work reinforces a truth every Marine knows well: taking care of your own is a lifelong commitment.

Tradition as Renewal

As we reflect on the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps—an institution defined by resilience, honor, and shared sacrifice—VanOpdorp believes the Corps’ unmatched reverence for tradition is what sets it apart.

These traditions celebrate the Corps’ history and pride and emphasize the importance of ensuring that each new generation upholds the values that have been at the heart of the Marine Corps since its founding. One such tradition is the cutting of the cake at the annual birthday celebration: the first piece is given to the guest of honor, while the second is given to the oldest Marine present. The oldest Marine then hands a piece to the youngest Marine present, symbolizing the passing on of knowledge and experience.

He compares those traditions to a spring rain. “They refresh you, clean everything out, and prepare you for new growth,” he says. “They remind us who we are, where we came from, and why the mission still matters.”

At the True North Foundation, we couldn’t agree more. Our partnership with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is grounded in that very spirit—purpose, and unwavering support for those who have earned the title Marine.

As we honor 250 years of the Corps, we are grateful for leaders like Harold “Odie” VanOpdorp and organizations like MCSF that carry forward its values into the next generation.

Semper Fidelis.