United States Marine Corps Forces Command

Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (COMMARFORCOM), headquartered at the Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads in Norfolk, Virginia, commands service retained-operating forces; executes force sourcing and synchronization to affect force generation actions in the provisioning of joint capable Marine Corps forces, and directs deployment planning and execution of service retained-operating forces in support of Combatant Commander (CCDR) and service requirements; serves as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (CG FMFLANT) and commands embarked Marine Corps forces; coordinates Marine Corps-Navy integration of operational initiatives and advises CDR U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) on support to Marine Corps forces assigned to naval ships, bases, and installations; conducts Service directed operational tasks as required. COMMARFORCOM is also the Commander, Marine Corps Forces Northern Command (MARFORNORTH), the Marine service component command of U.S. Northern Command.

United States Marine Corps Forces Command
Active13 July 1992 – present
(as Marine Corps Forces Atlantic)
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeMarine Combined arms
RoleAmphibious and expeditionary warfare
Garrison/HQNaval Support Activity Hampton Roads
Norfolk, VA
Commanders
CommanderLtGen Brian W. Cavanaugh
Deputy CommanderCol Matthew T. Good
Sergeant MajorSgtMaj Aaron G. McDonald
Insignia
Marine Corps Forces Northern Command

History

It was established on 13 July 1992 as Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic (MARFORLANT), and was renamed Marine Corps Forces Command on 30 December 2005. Between 1994 and 1997 its headquarters was briefly moved to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before returning to Norfolk. The Commander of Marine Forces Atlantic (since 2005 the Marine Corps Forces Command) is also simultaneously the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT).[1]

During the 1990s, Marine Forces Atlantic was one of the two active field commands of the Marine Corps, along with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC). The Commander of MARFORLANT (and later MARFORCOM) was also simultaneously the Commander-designate of Marine Corps Forces Europe (MARFOREUR) and Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH), while the Commander of MARFORPAC was the Commander-designate for Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT) and Marine Corps Forces Korea (MARFORK).[2] The "designate" commands had a minimal staff during peacetime that would be activated and become part of a larger component command in the event of a war.[3]

In 2015, both Marine Forces Europe/Africa and Marine Forces South became fully independent headquarters with dedicated commanders.[4][5]

In 2020, the responsibility for leading Marine Corps Forces Northern Command (MARFORNORTH) was transferred to the commander of MARFORCOM, after previously being held by the commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.[6][7]

Organization

As COMMARFORCOM, commands Service retained-operational forces. As CG FMFLANT, commands Service retained-operational forces embarked aboard Naval shipping. As COMMARFORNORTH, advises the U.S. Northern Command on the usage of Marine Corps forces in homeland defense operations.

List of commanders
No. Commander[8] Term
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic
26
William M. Keys
Keys, William M.Lieutenant General
William M. Keys
(born 1937)		July 199130 June 1994~2 years, 364 days
27
Robert B. Johnston
Johnston, Robert B.Lieutenant General
Robert B. Johnston
(born 1941)		1 July 1994August 1995~1 year, 31 days
28
Charles E. Wilhelm
Wilhelm, Charles E.Lieutenant General
Charles E. Wilhelm
(born 1941)		August 199523 November 1997~2 years, 114 days
29
Peter Pace
Pace, PeterLieutenant General
Peter Pace
(born 1945)		23 November 19978 September 20002 years, 290 days
30
Raymond P. Ayres
Ayres, Raymond P.Lieutenant General
Raymond P. Ayres
(born 1944)		8 September 200015 August 20021 year, 341 days
31
Martin R. Berndt
Berndt, Martin R.Lieutenant General
Martin R. Berndt
(born 1941)		15 August 200215 August 20053 years, 0 days
32
Robert R. Blackman Jr.
Blackman, Robert R. Jr.Lieutenant General
Robert R. Blackman Jr.
(born 1948)		15 August 200518 July 20071 year, 337 days
Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Command
33
Joseph F. Weber
Weber, Joseph F.Lieutenant General
Joseph F. Weber
(born 1950)		18 July 2007[9]1 August 20081 year, 14 days
34
Richard F. Natonski
Natonski, Richard F.Lieutenant General
Richard F. Natonski
(born 1951)		1 August 200817 August 20102 years, 16 days
35
Dennis J. Hejlik
Hejik, Dennis J.Lieutenant General
Dennis J. Hejlik
(born 1947)		17 August 2010[10]20 July 2012[11]1 year, 338 days
36
John M. Paxton Jr.
Paxton, John M. Jr.Lieutenant General
John M. Paxton Jr.
(born 1951)		20 July 2012[11]13 December 2012[12]146 days
-
W. Blake Crowe
Crowe, W. BlakeBrigadier General
W. Blake Crowe
(born 1967)
Acting		13 December 201228 June 2013197 days
37
Richard T. Tryon
Tryon, Richard T.Lieutenant General
Richard T. Tryon
(born c. 1954)		28 June 2013[13]1 July 20141 year, 3 days
38
Robert B. Neller
Neller, Robert B.Lieutenant General
Robert B. Neller
(born 1953)		1 July 201423 September 20151 year, 84 days
-
Bradford J. Gering
Gering, Bradford J.Brigadier General
Bradford J. Gering
(born 1967)
Acting		23 September 201518 December 201586 days
39
John E. Wissler
Wissler, John E.Lieutenant General
John E. Wissler
(born 1956)		18 December 2015[14]14 August 20171 year, 239 days
40
Mark A. Brilakis
Brilakis, Mark A.Lieutenant General
Mark A. Brilakis
(born 1958)		14 August 2017[15]3 July 20191 year, 323 days
41
Robert F. Hedelund
Hedelund, Robert F.Lieutenant General
Robert F. Hedelund
(born 1961)		3 July 2019[16]25 October 20212 years, 114 days
-
Michael E. Langley
Langley, Michael E.Major General
Michael E. Langley
(born c. 1963)
Acting		25 October 20213 November 20219 days
42
Michael E. Langley
Langley, Michael E.Lieutenant General
Michael E. Langley
(born c. 1963)		3 November 2021[17]4 August 2022274 days
-
John F. Kelliher III
Kelliher, John F. IIIBrigadier General
John F. Kelliher III
Acting		4 August 202230 August 202226 days
43
Brian W. Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh, Brian W.Lieutenant General
Brian W. Cavanaugh
(born 1968)		30 August 2022[18]Incumbent1 year, 48 days

See also

U.S. Armed Forces operations commands

References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
  1. MARINE CORPS FORCES COMMAND. Marine Corps University. Published 6 June 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  2. Current Operations. Headquarters Marine Corps, 6 April 1998.
  3. History of Marine Forces Europe and Africa. U.S. Marines. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. Hodge Seck, Hope (30 June 2015). 1-star becomes first dedicated commander of Marine Forces South. Military Times. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. Beardsley, Steven (18 August 2015). Marines to place Europe-Africa command under 2-star in Germany. Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  6. TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY OF MARFORNORTH FROM COMMARFORRES TO COMMARFORCOM. U.S. Marines. Published 8 December 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. U.S. Marine Corps Forces Northern Command Transfer of Authority to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. Published 8 December 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  8. "Former Commanders". United States Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2 July 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  9. "Q&A with Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Weber". Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer. October 2007.
  10. "Lieutenant General Dennis J. Hejlik, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command". Archived from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  11. Todd, David (25 July 2012). "Hejlik closes out extensive military career; remains true to Marine core values". Military News.
  12. McAdam, Scott (13 December 2012). "Paxton Relinquishes Command, MARFORCOM". DVIDS. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  13. "MARFORCOM change of command".
  14. "Wissler assumes command of MARFORCOM, FMF Atlantic". U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  15. "NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY HAMPTON ROADS - (Right to left) Lt. Gen. John E. Wissler, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, passes the unit colors to Lt. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis during a change of command ceremony at POW/MIA Field aboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Aug. 14. Lt. Gen. Wissler assumed command of MARFORCOM in December 2015. Lt. Gen. Brilakis most recently served as the Deputy Commandant of Manpower and Reserve Affairs at Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington D.C." www.marines.mil. 14 August 2017.
  16. Braden, Jessika (3 July 2019). "MARFORCOM welcomes new commanding general". DVIDS.
  17. "Lieutenant General Michael E. Langley". U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  18. Alvarado, Angel (30 August 2022). "The Incoming Commander [Image 4 of 13]". DVIDS. Norfolk, Virginia: Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command. Retrieved 31 August 2022.


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