MCIPAC welcomes new commander

Photo By Staff Sgt. Janessa Dugan | Marine officers and enlisted personnel of Marine Corps Installations Pacific stand in formation during the MCIPAC – Marine Corps Base Camp Butler change of command ceremony June 12, aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Malavet took command of MCIPAC from Maj. Gen. Charles L. Hudson who will be the new commander of Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. Malavet, who previously commanded 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and also served as the Deputy Commander for I MEF Camp Pendleton, California, is a naval aviator with almost 30 years’ experience as a commissioned officer including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and is also a graduate of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Malavet has a vast amount of experience with different exercises including joint exercise Pacific Horizon which is a crisis response exercise where 1st MEB takes on a support role similar to that of MCIPAC’s mission of supporting III MEF in crisis response situations. Malavet expressed how impressed he was with MCIPAC’s mission readiness and how he looks forward to these next few years as commander. “Most importantly I want to acknowledge and thank the Marines, sailors, civilians; both U.S. and Japanese, who work so hard and diligently with Marine Corps Installations Pacific.”  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

06.12.2015

Story by Cpl. Royce Dorman 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FOSTER, Japan — Marine Corps Installations Pacific - Marine Corps Base Camp Butler welcomed a new commander during the MCIPAC change of command ceremony June 12, aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan.

Brigadier Gen. Joaquin F. Malavet took command from Maj. Gen. Charles L. Hudson, who will be the new commander of Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., as well as the Assistant Deputy Commandant (ADC), Installations and Logistics (Facilities) and Commanding General, Marine Corps National Capital Region.

Hudson said he hopes that in all his time here, the main thing Marines and sailors he commanded remember, is his dedication and focus in making decisions that would positively affect both service members and their families charged to his care.

Hudson leaves after two years commanding MCIPAC in its support of III Marine Expeditionary Force operations throughout the Asia Pacific Region. This included relief efforts in the Philippines and Nepal as well as carrying out bi-lateral training operations in Thailand, Australia and The Republic Korea.

“I think the thing that captures Chuck Hudson the best is how he cares about his Marines, the families and all that are under his command,” said Maj. Gen. Juan G. Ayala commanding general MCICOM and the ceremony’s guest of honor. “At the end of the day that’s what he thinks about, that lance corporal, that family member and those folks that are here.”

Hudson relinquished command to Malavet who previously commanded 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and also served as the Deputy Commander for I MEF Camp Pendleton, California.

“As you assume command of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, know that you have my total trust and confidence,” said Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps, in a letter read to Malavet during the ceremony. “I know you will set the bar high and continue to move MCIPAC to even greater success.”

Malavet is a naval aviator with almost thirty years’ experience as a commissioned officer including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and is also a graduate of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.

“Your wealth of experience at every level—tactical, operational, and strategic in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region, and your commitment to engaged leadership has prepared you well for this challenging assignment,” said John Wissler commanding general III MEF, in a letter to Malavet.

Malavet also has a vast amount of experience with different exercises including joint exercise Pacific Horizon which is a crisis response exercise where 1st MEB takes on a support role similar to that of MCIPAC’s mission of supporting III MEF in crisis response situations.

Malavet stressed the importance of and expressed his appreciation for the efforts and work of the members of his new command.

“Most importantly I want to acknowledge and thank the Marines, sailors, civilians, both U.S. and Japanese, who work so hard and diligently with Marine Corps Installations Pacific.”

• Date Taken: 06.12.2015
• Date Posted: 06.15.2015 03:55
• Story ID: 166624
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, US