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NEW ORLEANS, La. - Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian assumed command of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North during a change of command ceremony held at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Louisiana, Sept. 12, 2015.
McMillian replaced Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, who will retire at the end of September, after 40 years of honorable service to the Corps. Mills had served as Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North commander since 2013.
Through his career, Mills commanded the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines Regiment as well as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which participated in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo and combat operations in Iraq as part of Task Force Tarawa under his command. Shortly after assuming command as the 1st Marine Division commander, Mills was selected to command the I Marine Expeditionary Force, which deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force. In 2010, he assumed command of the newly created ISAF Regional Command and was the first Marine Corps general to command NATO forces in combat. Upon promotion to lieutenant general, he assumed the duties as the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Virginia, and as Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, and Commander of Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command.
“I have served with [Lt. Gen.] McMillian before and I know he brings great knowledge and experience as a Marine,” said Mills. “I leave here very hopeful and very inspired.”
McMillian graduated from the University of Southern California and was commissioned in 1980 via the Platoon Leaders Class program. A naval aviator by trade, he completed flight school in 1982 and has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours during his career in numerous platforms.
Throughout his career, McMillian has commanded the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134, served as deputy commander for Marine Aircraft Group 46, as well as deputy commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Pacific. He also served as deputy commanding general for I Marine Expeditionary Force, and commanding general for 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
In his first speech as the new commander for MarForRes/MarForNorth during the ceremony, McMillian thanked the crowd for their presence, expressed his excitement and hopes for his new position, and addressed the Marines under his leadership.
“I am very proud to be standing here as your commanding general,” said McMillian. “I am looking forward to the next two years and to the opportunity to get to know all of you and to serve with you, Semper Fidelis.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.01.2015 13:22 |
| Story ID: | 175866 |
| Location: | NEW ORLEANS, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Lt. Gen. Mills passes Corps’ largest command to Lt. Gen. McMillian, by Sgt Ian Ferro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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