US Pacific Marines Get New Commander; General Vows to Defend His Leaders

Lieutenant General Roger Turner has officially assumed command of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), a pivotal unit comprising roughly two-thirds of the active-duty Marine Corps with approximately 72,500 personnel. Turner succeeds Lieutenant General James Glynn, who is retiring after a distinguished 37-year military career.

The change of command ceremony, held at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, saw Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric Smith publicly endorse both the incoming and outgoing commanders. Smith declared with strong conviction that anyone speaking ill of Turner or Glynn would face his direct physical opposition, emphasizing his belief in their integrity and service.

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If anyone says anything bad about Turner or Glynn, I'll punch him straight in the mouth, because that will be a lie.

Turner previously served as the commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, where he oversaw the development of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment and played a key role in the U.S. military's force transformation in the Indo-Pacific region. General Smith recalled serving alongside Turner in Iraq, sharing a harrowing experience when their Humvee was attacked by an improvised explosive device on their first day of a mission in Ramadi.

MARFORPAC, headquartered at Camp Smith on Oahu, Hawaii, oversees the I and III Marine Expeditionary Forces. General Smith underscored the unit's critical importance, stating, "Our future is in the Pacific." He also commended Glynn's leadership in implementing force design reforms, including the development of the ground-based mobile anti-ship missile system, NMESIS, capable of threatening enemy vessels from extended ranges. Admiral Sam Paparo, the top U.S. commander in the Indo-Pacific, expressed high confidence in Turner's ability to lead MARFORPAC.

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Our future is in the Pacific.