Lieutenant General Robert B. Neller nominated for Commandant of Marine Corps
According to the Washington Post, Lieutenant General Robert B. Neller has been nominated by the Secretary of Defense to be the Commandant of the Marine Corps today;
Neller is known as a no-nonsense leader and a student of military history. He served for the past year as the commander of Marine Corps Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., which oversees and provides Marines for deployments overseas. He previously served as the commander of Marine Corps Forces Central Command, which oversees Marine operations in the Middle East; and as president of Marine Corps University at Quantico, Va.
Earlier in his career, he deployed to Somalia and Panama and was a staff officer in the policy division of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Casteau, Belgium.
According to his biography;
Lieutenant General Neller’s assignments in the operating forces include: Rifle and Weapons Platoon Leader and Company Commander with Company L, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division, Commanding Officer, Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 3d Light Armored Infantry Battalion and 6th Marine Regiment. While with 3d LAI he participated in Operation “Restore Hope” in Somalia. Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Security Force Company, Panama, where he participated in Operations “Just Cause” and “Promote Liberty”. Additionally, he served as Executive Officer, 7th Marine Regiment, G-3, II Marine Expeditionary Force and G-3, 2nd Marine Division.
It sounds as if he can gun and I see a Combat Action Ribbon on his rack.
Category: Marine Corps
Tough luck for Gen John Paxton (the guy who does his own snow shoveling from his yard). He has been the asst commandant since 2012 under both generals Amos & Dunford. Just too old is my guess at 65 & historically the ACMC generally don’t get elevated to the top post.
…and I see a Combat Action Ribbon on his rack.…
Yeah, it looks like a “CAR and a STAR” to me.
Yep. I’d guess they’re for service in Panama and Somalia based on his bio, but he’s also been to Afghanistan so one could be for service there instead.
No OEF ribbon, just the OIF with 2 campaign stars.
Damn, apparently my eyes are not operating that well today. Looks like you’re correct.
The NATO Medal he’s sporting must be for service in the Balkans or while at SHAPE.
A little embarrassed that I have not heard of Lt. General Neller before this.
At least he’s not an airwinger who did TBS via correspondence course…..
I have never heard of him either but he seems to have a good bio. Isn’t it unusual this day and time to promote a Lt. General to CMC with all the four stars around. This General must be “really good” or an Obama pick in which case “really bad”…let’s hope the former and give him the benefit of the doubt. GOOD LUCK GENERAL!!!!
USMC typically nominates a CMC from the 3 star ranks. The Corps is only authorized two 4 star billets (CMC & ACMC), but can exceed that amount via COCOM or CJCS/VCJCS assignments. For some reason, the Marines don’t like to promote the ACMC to Commandant….so that basically leaves Lt Gens. The Army, Navy, AF almost always seek to nominate a senior serving 4 star to be chief…but of course they have way many more candidate options than the Marines.
Hmmmm, the personnel shortages must be getting pretty severe in the USMC. I didn’t realize that LTs could become the Commandant (first para of your post, Jonn)!
😉
I know nothing about him but he was my series commander when I was in boot camp in 1977.
Oh joy a GROUND LOGISTICS guy. I am sure Headquarters United States Marine Corps will have all their paperwork in order for a while.
I predict a new cammo pattern change for Marines in 6 months. Logistics guys are good at that stuff. Probably a dozen new forms that will help getting requests for things denied quicker.
I am on the edge of my chair waiting to see what his position on ‘Sleeves up, Sleeves Down’ will be.
At least Headquarters will smell better now that Gen Anus was finally flushed. I am still not sure anyone is qualified to operate the urinal, seems we still have a group of squatters in the head.
Bring back Mattis.
Reminds me a lot of Chesty Puller.
As an aside, I was always curious that while Chesty nominated several of his Marines for the MoH, how in the hell was Chesty himself awarded 5 Navy Crosses and none were ever considered for the MoH.
Chesty Neller, a true leader, real man, no pomp, no chicken shit type. He was our XO at TBS, when he wore the Clark Kent glasses. He’ll leave the Corps in better shape when he’s done.