Maj. Gen. Edward D. Banta took command of Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall on July 9, 2019.
Banta’s previous positions focused on improving installation readiness for warfighters as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs, Programs and Resources Department, Headquarters Marine Corps, and Commanding General of Marine Corps Installations - West and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton at Camp Pendleton, California.
“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead MCICOM and work with a truly exceptional team of professionals,” said Banta. “Having watched this organization evolve over the years, I’ve seen it continue to improve and I cannot wait to continue on the trajectory that’s been set.”
Maj. Gen. Vincent A. Coglianese, outgoing commander, oversaw all Marine Corps installation activities since May 2017. His efforts helped advanced greater Marine Corps priorities, provide robust support to the operating forces, and ensure the well-being of Marines, Sailors, and their families stationed throughout the world.
“When you look at our installations you realize four main things: how important our civilian workforce is to our success; how dedicated our local commanders are to generating combat power; how involved each installation community is with state, local, and federal government; and how much our installation personnel looks out for the well-being of our Marine Corps family,” said Coglianese. “I could not be more proud of MCICOM and all that we’ve been able to accomplish.”
During his tenure at MCICOM, Coglianese played a pivotal role in advancing Hurricane Florence recovery efforts. Hurricane Florence was the second wettest hurricane to hit the U.S. in 70 years, and the storm displaced 4,000 military personnel and family members at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River, and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. In the first 100 days following the storm, Coglianese visited the impacted installations on a weekly basis to directly assess recovery efforts, hear from families, and meet with privatized housing partners.
With these installations critically affected by the storm, his leadership and resolve helped secure $400 million of reprogrammed resources and $981 million in fiscal year 2019 funding as part of the natural disaster relief bill signed by President Donald J. Trump. Coglianese used his firsthand experiences to effectively communicate the Marine Corps’ story to the Department of the Navy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and other groups in order to keep Hurricane Florence recovery efforts a priority.
“Hurricane Florence recovery efforts would not be where they are without [Coglianese’s] leadership,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Chiarotti, Marine Corps Installations and Logistics, deputy commandant. “He kept a real pulse on the community that was impacted by the storm and demonstrated his deep commitment to Marines and their families.”
Beyond Hurricane Florence, Coglianese remained personally invested in advocating for residents in privatized housing. He engaged directly with privatized housing partners to increase responsiveness and pushed housing teams at the installation level to expand. Coglianese closely coordinated with Navy Installations Command and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command to advocate for the safety and security of residents.
In order to increase the resilience of Marine Corps installations, Coglianese also spearheaded innovative ideas and disruptive processes to modernize installations by establishing a new MCICOM directorate focused on modernization and development. From collaborating with community partners (e.g., academia, industry, state and local governments) to focusing on resilience, force protection, and mobility and installations of the future, Coglianese encouraged creativity at all levels.
“[Coglianese’s] professionalism, dedication, and intensity has not changed throughout the years,” said Chiarotti. “He’s a problem solver – he goes in and fixes things, and has left MCICOM in a better place than it was before.”
With over 36 years of service to the Marine Corps, Coglianese’s additional positions include: Marine Corps Inspector General, the Deputy Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff Commanding General of Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Commanding General, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics.