Robert F. Castellvi

Robert F. Castellvi is a retired United States Marine Corps major general who most recently served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps from 9 October 2020 to 1 May 2021.[1] As Inspector General, Castellvi oversaw matters of institutional integrity, discipline and combat readiness in the Corps, maintaining credibility through impartial and independent inspections, assessments, inquiries, investigations, teaching, and training. He is also an ex-officio Member at the North Carolina Military Affairs Full Commission in Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina.[2]

Robert F. Castellvi
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1984-2022
RankMajor general
UnitTask Force Leatherneck
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Commands heldInspector General of the Marine Corps
1st Marine Division
2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Marine Corps Installations East
Battles/warsOperation Earnest Will
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards1993 recipient of the Leftwich Trophy for leadership
Combat Action Ribbon
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one Gold Star
Bronze Star Medal
Alma materUniversity of Illinois
Capitol College (MS)
National Defense University (MS)
Marine Corps University (MS)
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
School of Advanced Warfighting
Marine Command and General Staff College

As of 1 May 2021, Castellvi was suspended from serving as the Inspector General of the Marine Corps pending the outcome of an investigation into an AAV mishap while he was commanding general of the 1st Marine Division.[3]

Military career

Castellvi was commissioned into the Marine Corps via the NROTC program in February 1984.[4]

Castellvi participated in Operation Earnest Will in the Persian Gulf with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 1985, Operation Inherent Resolve as the deputy commanding general for operations, Operation RESTORE HOPE, and Operation Desert Storm.[1]

On 22 March 2017, then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis nominated Robert F. Castellvi to the rank of Major General while he was deputy commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (dual-hatted as 2 MEB commander). He was confirmed by the Senate on 1 May 2017.[5] He was the commander of Marine Corps Installations East from 12 July 2013 to 31 July 2015, and was succeeded by Major General Thomas D. Weidley.[6] He was also a director of the Manpower Management Division.[7]

He was formerly the commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade[1] and then the 1st Marine Division, succeeding Eric M. Smith. He served as commanding general of the 1st Marines from 6 July 2018 to 22 September 2020, passing the baton to Major General Roger B. Turner Jr.[8][9] While serving as the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, Castellvi relieved Lt. Col. Francisco Zavala, the commanding officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Castellvi relieved Zavala on May 7, 2019 for "loss of trust and confidence" in the commander's ability to lead the battalion.[10]

Suspension

Castellvi was suspended from all current duties on 1 May 2021 on orders from David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, based on an investigation into his responsibility for an AAV mishap at Camp Pendleton, when 8 Marines and a Navy Corpsman drowned in a preventable "accident" on July 30, 2020. An investigation is still being conducted on culpability.[11][3]

In June 2021, Marine spokespersons reported that Castellvi had been permanently relieved of duty as Inspector General and counselled by the Commandant, rendering him likely ineligible for promotion to higher rank.[12][13]

Education

Major General Castellvi is a graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned his Marine Corps commission through the NROTC program.[14] He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advance Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, The School of Advanced Warfighting, as well as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Castellvi also earned Master's Degrees from the Marine Corps University, the National Defense University, and Capitol College.[15]

Awards and decorations

Major General Robert F. Castellvi is the recipient of the following awards:[16]

Parachutist Badge
Rifle Expert Badge (7th award)

References
  1. "Major General Robert F. Castellvi, Inspector General of the Marine Corps". Headquarters Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  2. "NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY AFFAIRS FULL COMMISSION MEETING" (PDF). U.S. Government. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  3. Mallory Shellbourne (3 May 2021). "UPDATED: Marine Corps Suspends General Over Deadly AAV Accident, Navy Launches Own Investigation". USNI News. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  4. "PN715 — Marine Corps, 98th Congress (1983-1984)". U.S. Congress. 29 February 1984. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. March 22, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  6. Mike McHugh (August 7, 2017). "Brig.Gen. Julian D. Alford to lead MCIEAST". JD news. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  7. "FY20 U.S. MARINE CORPS OFFICER PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS". U.S. Marine Corps. April 5, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  8. Preston McDonald (June 12, 2015). "2nd MEB bids farewell to Simcock, welcomes Castellvi". Dvidshub. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  9. "Marine Corps Biography: Brigadier General". Semper fi parents. 29 October 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  10. Gina Harkins (8 May 2019). "Marine Recon Commanding Officer Relieved, 4th Leader Ousted in 2 Weeks". Military.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  11. Lamothe, Dan (2021-05-04). "Marine Corps suspends general cited in fatal amphibious-vehicle disaster at sea". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  12. Fuentes, Gidget (2021-06-09). "Marine Corps IG Removed, 'Counseled' for Failures as 1st MARDIV CO Following Fatal AAV Sinking Investigation". USNI News.
  13. "Marine Corps commandant forces out general cited in fatal AAV accident". The Washington Post. 2021-06-09.
  14. "Major General Robert F. Castellvi". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  15. "Major General Robert F. Castellvi". Marine Corps. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  16. "Marine Corps Brigadier General Biographies". Semperfiparents. October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
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