General Stanley is a 1969 graduate of South Carolina State University. He received his M.S. from Johns Hopkins University in 1977, graduating with honors. His formal military education includes Amphibious Warfare School (1978), the Naval War College (1983), Honor Graduate of U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College (1984), and National War College (1988).

After completing The Basic School at Quantico, VA., Major General Stanley served as a supply and fiscal officer both in overseas and continental United States commands. Upon being redesignated an infantry officer, he completed tours of duty as a platoon commander; Commanding Officer, Company M, 3d Battalion, 8th Marines; Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, 4th Marines; Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines; and Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Regiment. Major General Stanley maintains the secondary military occupational specialty of parachutist, and has served in the following assignments outside of the Fleet Marine Forces: psychology and leadership instructor, U.S. Naval Academy; Executive Officer, Marine Corps Institute and Parade Commander at Marine Barracks, Washington D.C.; Special Assistant and Marine Corps Aide for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy; and as a desk officer in the Office of the Assistant Secretary Of Defense, East Asia and Pacific Region, the Pentagon.

Other assignments include: Depot Inspector and Commander, First Recruit Training Battalion, Parris Island; White House Fellowship Program where he served as Special Assistant to the Director of the FBI; Fleet Marine Officer, 2d Fleet, USS Mt Whitney, LCC-20, Norfolk, VA; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, (Manpower Plans & Policy); Director of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.; Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA; and Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA.

His personal decorations include: the Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star; Navy Commendation Medal; and Navy Achievement Medal.