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Helland nominated for I MEF command

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — President Bush on Wednesday nominated Maj. Gen. Samuel Helland — an experienced helicopter pilot and combat veteran of Vietnam and the 1991 Persian Gulf War — for a third star and command of the 45,000-member I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton.

Helland, deputy commander of I MEF and commander of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, would replace Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis, who has been nominated to take over U.S. Joint Forces Command.

If confirmed by the Senate, Helland also would take command of Marine Corps Forces-Central Command, which includes overseeing all Marines serving in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf region.

Helland enlisted in the Army in 1968 and served three years with Army Special Forces, including a combat tour in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group-Military Advisory Command (Special Operations Group), according to his official biography.

In 1973, he went to the Marine Corps’ Officer Candidates School and later became a naval aviator, flying CH-53 transport helicopters.

His command tours include Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 from 1991 to 1993, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from 1996 to 1999, Fleet Marine Forces-South from 2001 to 2003 and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa from 2004 to 2005.

In 2005, Helland took the helm of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, handing over command to Maj. Gen. Terry Robling on July 13.