Courtesy Photo | Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford officially passes the I Marine Expeditionary Force colors to...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. passed the reigns of Camp Pendleton, Calif., based I Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command to Lt. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser during a change of command ceremony at Camp Del Mar, Oct. 19.
Dunford will get his fourth star and go on to serve as the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.
During his speech, Dunford touched on the efforts of the Marines and families of I MEF.
“I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued friendship and support during my time at I MEF,” he said. “The hard work these individuals put forth day in and day out is phenomenal. But that wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated leaders and dedicated families that support them.”
Waldhauser, who was most recently stationed at Camp Pendleton from September 2007 until July 2009 as the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, said he looked forward to working with the Marines of I MEF.
“I really want to thank all of my old friends here, the new friends I will meet and the commandant for allowing me the opportunity to serve here again,” he said.
Waldhauser, who was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1976 after graduating from Bemidji State University, previously served as deputy commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations.
Waldhauser’s other previous duties include company grade assignments as platoon and company commander with both the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions and as commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard the USS Long Beach.
As a field grade officer Waldhauser served on the faculty of the Amphibious Warfare School. During this tour, he deployed as staff of the commander of U.S. Marine Corps Central Command (Forward) during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Waldhauser also served as the battalion commander of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and at the Pentagon with the Joint Staff Combating Terrorism Directorate.
As a colonel, Waldhauser commanded the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which conducted combat operations in both southern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and in Iraq while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As a general officer, Waldhauser commanded the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and was Deputy Commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command. From 2006-2007, he served as the Chief of Staff of U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.
Waldhauser has attended U.S. Army Ranger School, Jumpmaster School, Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National War College where he earned a Masters Degree in National Security Strategies.
| Date Taken: | 10.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.20.2010 12:00 |
| Story ID: | 58492 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 674 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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