Taking the Reins: Marine Corps Forces Command’s Headquarters & Service Battalion welcomes new commanding officer

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero | Marine Lt. Col. Anthony Ference gets ready to relinquish his duties as the commanding officer of Marine Corps Forces Command, Headquarters and Service Battalion to Col. Susan B. Seaman during the traditional passing of the unit colors at the unit's change of command ceremony at Camp Allen, Aug. 25.  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

08.25.2011

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

NORFOLK, Va. - Marine Col. Susan B. Seaman assumed duties as commanding officer for Marine Corps Forces Command Headquarters and Service Battalion from Lt. Col. Anthony A. Ference during a change of command ceremony attended by more than 100 Marines, sailors and family members at Camp Allen, Aug. 25.

Seaman, who is a native of Columbia, Md., transferred here from Headquarters and Support Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C., where she served as the commanding officer over the last couple of years.

She assumes the leadership of this Marine unit that supports thousands of Marines and sailors in the Hampton Roads area.
The U.S. Naval Academy class of 1989 graduate was joined at the ceremony by her husband Col. Henri Boré, a retired French Marine, and her three-month-old daughter Eloise.

Ference, who is a native of Trafford, Pa., will be assuming duties as assistant chief of Staff for Logistics at Marine Corps Forces Command.

The Pennsylvania State University class of 1989 graduate was joined at the ceremony by his wife Laura and his parents John and Judy Ference who are also natives of Trafford, Pa.

United States Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM), headquartered at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, is the United States Marine Corps component of the United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM). It was previously known as Marine Forces Atlantic (MARFORLANT).

MARFORCOM is one of three major Marine Corps commands (along with United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve) that provide operating forces to support Unified or Joint Task Force Commanders and Fleet Commanders Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (COMMARFORCOM) serves as a principal advisor to the commander in Chief, United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), on Marine Corps matters. He is responsible for organizing, training and equipping forces for employment as directed by USJFCOM.

COMMARFORCOM also serves in the following capacities:
• Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic
• Commander, United States Marine Forces, Europe
• Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces, South
• Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Bases, Atlantic

• Date Taken: 08.25.2011
• Date Posted: 08.26.2011 12:33
• Story ID: 75997
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US