Dunford to take command of the Marine Corps Friday
Oct. 16, 2014 - 09:14PM |
The Passage of the Commandants- Gen. Amos takes co...: Gen. James T. Conway relinquished his position as commandant of the Marine Corps to Gen. James F. Amos during a change-of-command ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington Oct. 22. 2010. (Marines)
Joseph Dunford Zoom Gen. Joseph Dunford will become the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps on Friday. Dunford will replace Gen. Jim Amos, the Marine Corps' first aviator commandant. (Ahmad Jamshid/The Associated Press)
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Gen. Joe Dunford will become the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps on Friday during a formal ceremony held at Marine Barracks Washington.
Dunford, 58, succeeds Gen. Jim Amos, who will retire after 44 years of service, 42 of those in the Marine Corps, following the passage of command.
The ceremony, set to start at 10 a.m., will include formal honors with a pass-in-review featuring “The President’s Own” Marine Band stationed at 8th and I. Guests often include past commandants, Marine Medal of Honor recipients and other notaries. Traditionally, the incoming commandant delivers a brief first address after he assumes command.
Amos, 67, made history in 2010 when he became the first Marine Corps aviator to assume the commandancy.
Dunford previously led all U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan as the commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. He also served as assistant commandant for two years under Amos.
He earned the nickname “Fighting Joe” while commanding Regimental Combat Team-5 during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. This year, Dunford also made the list of Fortune Magazine’s 50 greatest world leaders.
Current Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Mike Barrett and Assistant Commandant Gen. John “Jay” Paxton will both stay on for a period following Dunford’s assumption of command, sources confirmed.
http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20141016/NEWS/310160051/Dunford-take-command-Marine-Corps-Friday
