Photo By Lauren Kurkimilis | Col. David J. Eskelund, off-going commanding officer, Marine Corps Logistics...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Col. David J. Eskelund relinquished command of Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group to Col. Matthew S. Cook during a change of command ceremony at Dunham Amphitheater, June 24, 2014.
Eskelund assumed command of MCLOG in June 2012 when the unit was first activated, serving as its first commander.
Cook came to the unit from the Marine Corps Logistics Command in Albany, Georgia, where he served as commanding officer and operations officer.
After the invocation, given by Navy Capt. Steven R. Moses, Combat Center Chaplain, the passing of the colors, and playing of the national anthem, Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, Combat Center Commanding General, addressed the audience.
“Every once in a while, the Marine Corps gets the right person with the right background and the right leadership style at exactly the right time,” Berger said. “That happened in this case. The Marine Corps needed the first to be in this seat to be the right guy and they really got it right.”
Berger thanked the band, family members, friends and service members for their attendance and then passed the microphone to Eskelund, who conveyed his appreciation to his family, friends, and adjacent commanders from the Combat Center and from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, for all of their hard work to contribute to the development of MCLOG.
“When we started out, it was so small and it was every commander’s dream.” Eskelund said. “I knew every Marine in the command, we had no parking issues, and we had plenty of supplies for the three or four individuals who were standing (the unit) up. Those problems came later on but we were ready for them when they did come.”
Eskelund, whose personal awards include a Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf, Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, a Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, a combat action ribbon, and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, also described the collective attitude of MCLOG, which he believes aided in its success and productivity.
“In my never-ending search for simplicity, I wanted to come up with one word for MCLOG and I’ve got it down to two,” Eskelund said. “When I think about this organization and how it operates, I think, ‘We do,’ because it is a collective effort and this is a good demonstration that the power and momentum of a group moves much more rapidly, effectively and efficiently than a bunch of individuals trying to run in the same direction.”
When Cook, whose personal decorations include a Bronze Star with gold star in lieu of second award, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star, spoke, he thanked his family and fellow Marines and expressed his excitement over joining MCLOG.
“I am very excited to be here. As they have alluded to, this is a very special command for the logistics community,” Cook said. “We’re entering new and interesting times and we’ve learned a lot of lessons over the last 10 years in war. This command will make sure that we hold on to those lessons learned that were hard fought as we enter a time of fiscal and personnel constraint.”
“The Marines Hymn” played, bringing the ceremony to an end. This marked the closing of a chapter for Eskelund and the opening of a new one for Cook.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2014 17:26 |
| Story ID: | 134567 |
| Location: | TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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