John M. Paxton Jr.

John M. Paxton Jr.

Paxton in January 2013
Born (1951-06-25) June 25, 1951
Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1974–2016
Rank General
Commands held Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
II Marine Expeditionary Force[1]
1st Marine Division
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (2)
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2)

John M. Paxton Jr. (born June 25, 1951) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 33rd Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.[2] Prior to current assignment, he served as the Commanding General of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM); Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic (FMFlant); Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe, as well as II Marine Expeditionary Force.[1] Paxton retired on August 4, 2016, after 42 years of service.[3]

Previously, Paxton was Director, J3 - Operations, The Joint Staff and Chief of Staff, Multinational Forces-Iraq. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced on March 13, 2008, Paxton's nomination for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and for assignment as Director, Strategic Plans & Policy, J-5, The Joint Staff. On May 22, 2007, Paxton relinquished command of the 1st Marine Division to take the role of Chief of Staff for Multi-National Force-Iraq.[4]

Early life and education

Born in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1951, Paxton attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, earning both a bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Civil Engineering. He was elected to the Sphinx Head Society during his senior year. Moreover, he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity throughout his undergraduate years at Cornell. Upon completion of Officer Candidates School, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1974.

In addition to The Basic School, his professional education includes U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School (non-resident), U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College. From 1994 to 1995 Paxton was a Federal Executive Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution. He has also been a Marine Corps Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Seminar XXI.

Career

Paxton (left) turns over command of the 1st Marine Division on May 22, 2007.
Paxton speaking in April 2012.
Paxton speaking in March 2013.

Upon completion of The Basic School, Paxton was ordered to Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia and then assigned as a Rifle Platoon Commander in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Marine Brigade, Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Paxton has served twice with the 1st Marine Division (3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and 1st Marines), once with the 2nd Marine Division (1st Battalion, 8th Marines), and twice with the 3rd Marine Division (1st Battalion, 3rd Marines and 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines), commanding at the platoon, company, battalion and regimental levels. He commanded Battalion Landing Team 1/8 from April 1992 – June 1994. They deployed with 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable and USS America (CV-66) Battle Group as Landing Force 6th Fleet (LF6F 2-93) and Joint Adaptive Task Force 93-2 in support of operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and later as United Nations Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in Mogadishu, Somalia.

In addition to command, Paxton has also served in Operations, Plans and Training (G3/S3) at the battalion, regiment, division (1st and 2nd Marine Divisions) and Marine Expeditionary Force (II-MEF) levels. Non-Fleet Marine Force tours included Commanding Officer Company B, Marine Barracks, 8th & I, Washington, D.C. (1980–81); Commanding Officer Marine Corps Recruiting Station New York, New York (1985–88); Strategic Plans Branch (PLS), Plans, Policies and Operations (PP&O) Department, Headquarters United States Marine Corps; and as Executive Assistant and Marine Corps Aide to the Under Secretary of the Navy (1996–97). General Paxton is a Joint Service Officer, having served at United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command in South Korea from 1989 to 1991 as Amphibious Operations Officer and Executive Officer, Crisis Action Team.

From June 1997 to June 1998, Paxton was the Assistant Chief of Staff G3 (Operations, Plans and Training). His next assignment, from June 1998 to June 2000, was commanding the 1st Marine Regiment. From 2000 to 2001, Paxton had a one-year tour as the United States Marine Corps Fellow (National Security Studies) at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. From July 2001 to August 2003, he was the Director, Programs Division (RP), and Assistant Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Programs and Resources (ADC,P&R), Headquarters Marine Corps.

From 2003 to 2006, Paxton served as Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Western Recruiting Region.

On May 22, 2007, Paxton relinquished command of the 1st Marine Division to Brigadier General Richard P. Mills.[5] Paxton next served as the Chief of Staff to the commander of Multi-National Force - Iraq. Advanced to Lieutenant General in 2008, Paxton served initially as Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff, then was nominated and confirmed to the Operations Directorate (J-3), where he served until appointment as CG, II MEF; and CG, Marine Forces, Africa. Before departing the Pentagon, Paxton also served as interim director, The Joint Staff.

Paxton retired in August 2016.[6]

Awards and decorations

Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Badge Basic Parachutist Insignia
1st row Defense Distinguished Service Medal
2nd row Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit with one gold award star Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal
3rd row Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 1 award star Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
4th row Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 2 service stars National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 service star
5th row Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 service star Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal
6th row Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 3 service stars Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon w/ 1 service star Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon United Nations Medal
Badge Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Paxton also holds several awards of the expert rifle badge and the sharpshooter pistol marksmanship badge.

References

  1. 1 2 "Taking the reins: Paxton assumes command of II Marine Expeditionary Force - The Globe: Top Stories". Camplejeuneglobe.com. 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
  2. ↑ Marine Gen. John Paxton, assistant commandant, retires after 42 years in uniform By Jeff Schogol, Marine Corps Times August 4, 2016
  3. ↑ Beesley, Dana (August 4, 2016). "Oldest Active Duty Marine Retires". DVIDS. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Fuentes, Gidget (2007). "1st Marine Division to get interim boss". Marine Corps Times.
  5. ↑ LCpl Jerry Murphy (May 24, 2007). "New hands take charge of Blue Diamond". Marine Corps Times. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  6. ↑ Marine Gen. John Paxton, assistant commandant, retires after 42 years in uniform By Jeff Schogol, Marine Corps Times August 4, 2016
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

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