Photo By Adele Uphaus-Conner | Sgt. Maj. Samuel Heyward presents the Marine Corps Recruiting Command colors to Lt....... read more read more
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Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy became the new commanding general of Marine Corps Recruiting Command at a ceremony held in the Gray Research Center aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on Dec. 17. He assumed leadership of the command from Lt. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, who has held the position since May of 2013.
Kennedy holds a master’s degree in military science from Marine Corps University and a master of arts in national security strategy from the National War College. He comes to Quantico from Okinawa, Japan, where he was deputy commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. From 2008 to 2011, he commanded the 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He also participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“You have filled our ranks with the best and brightest Marines who go into harm’s way and save people’s lives,” Kennedy said to Brilakis during the ceremony. “I was proud to lead them on the pointy end, and I’m proud to help find their replacements here.”
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller, attended the change of command ceremony.
“We’re talking about people here,” Neller said of MCRC.
“We train and retain. That’s the first thing we do. If we can do that well, the Marine Corps will be fine — I believe that.
Neller credited Brilakis with enhancing the quality and diversity of the Marine Corps so that it will more closely resemble the make-up of the United States as a whole. He said the standard and quality of today’s Marines keeps rising and that Kennedy is the right man to ensure the trend continues.
“You have my full trust and confidence,” Neller told Kennedy.
Brilakis said he and his wife, Kate, have enjoyed their 30 months with MCRC.
“I’ve had nothing but fun here,” he said. “Paul, you’re going to have a great time!”
Brilakis, who will retain his position as deputy commandant of Manpower and Reserve Affairs after stepping down from MCRC, praised the six district commanders and the 3,000 active recruiters within MCRC for achieving all recruitment goals and weathering the challenges of budget reductions and civilian furloughs.
“These are the guys who bear the responsibility month-to-month, and they’ve done a phenomenal job,” he said.
Kennedy addressed the audience last.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve got this job now. I’m surrounded by professionals and I’ll learn fast,” he said.
To the commandant, he said, “I’ll try not to call too often, but I understand my charge, sir.”
| Date Taken: | 12.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2015 08:58 |
| Story ID: | 185419 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,400 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy assumes command of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, by Adele Uphaus-Conner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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