Marco Palmieri

Doctor Marco Palmieri was the founder and National Commander of the S.T.A.R.S. organization. Following the Mansion Incident, the Umbrella Corporation, as part of their plans to discredit the Raccoon City S.T.A.R.S., gradually subverted control of the entire S.T.A.R.S. organization by bribing or blackmailing key S.T.A.R.S. leadership or field personnel and turned them to their employ. Because Palmieri was "above" taking bribes, Umbrella arranged to have Palmieri forcibly retired.

Trivia
Marco Palmieri is the name of the editor of the Resident Evil Novel Series, to whom the books hold a dedication to.