New Orleans --
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.”