A Marine two-star who earned a Bronze Star with "V" while leading troops in the 2004 battle for Fallujah, Iraq, has taken command of the East Coast-based II Marine Expeditionary Force has a new commanding general stepping to plate.
Maj.or Gen. W. Lee alter L. Miller, Jr. assumed command of II MEF Thursday afternoon, replacing Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler during a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Beydler, who has led II MEF since July 2014, was tapped for lieutenant general and nominated for command of Marine Corps Forces Central Command in Tampa, Florida.
Miller, a career infantry officer who served as chief of staff for U.S. Special Operations Command before taking over II MEF, will lead the more than 47,000 Marines and sailors of one of the largest and most powerful Marine air-ground task forces.
He previously led the Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit through Operation Phantom Fury, some of the fiercest urban combat of the Iraq War. He earned a Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device for showing "dynamic direction, keen judgment and inspiring devotion to duty" during that deployment, according to the medal citation.
Miller has also served as commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, during operations in Kosovo, Djibouti and Iraq.
Maj. Gen. W. Lee Miller Jr., right, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, receives the II MEF colors from Maj. Gen. William Beydler, former commanding general, during a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 22.
Photo Credit: Cpl. Krista James/Marine Corps
Beydler, who will go on to lead Marines in CENTCOM, said at the ceremony that leading II MEF "has been my pleasure," and expressed his appreciation for the Marines and sailors and leadership with the command of II MEF during his brief tenure.
"Today for me has been a day of thanks," he said.
"One of the Corps' strengths — II MEF plays a huge part in it — is its ability to build MAGTFs rapidly and send them to do the nation's bidding," Miller said at the ceremony. "Once you set sail, you’re going to run into a storm. We have to be ready. I believe II MEF is ready."The North Carolina-based II MEF regularly rotates 1,700 Marines and sailors through Africa and Europe Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa and the Black Sea Rotational Force to engage with more than 45 partner nations throughout a its broad area of operations. Additionally, II MEF regularly deploys small advise-and-assist teams to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
