Headline: MajGen Ayala is New Commander, MCICOM
Major General Juan G.Ayala, assumed leadership for the Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) from retiring Major General James A. Kessler in a change of command ceremony at Henderson Hall, Arlington, VA on July 2. Ayala, previously the Inspector General of the Marine Corps, also assumed the roles of Assistant Deputy Commandant (ADC) Installations & Logistics (Facilities) and Commanding General, Marine Corps National Capital Regional Command.
“MajGen Kessler has made tremendous strides forward in establishing the new MCICOM,” said Ayala “I am honored to be his successor and look forward to continuing the important work he began in commanding the Marines and civilians at all our installations.”
MajGen Ayala, a 34-year career Marine officer, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in July, 1979 following his graduation from the University of Texas at El Paso. He held a wide range of command assignments leading up to his promotion to Brigadier General in August 2008, including Executive Officer and later Commanding Officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 and Chief, Humanitarian Assistance Branch at Headquarters, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. While serving as Assistant Chief of Staff G-4 at 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar, CA he was deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In addition to serving as Commanding General, 2nd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune, NC, MajGen Ayala has commanded Marines on four different occasions at the company, squadron, regiment and group level including twice during combat operations. He has completed four tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as Chief of Staff, United States Southern Command in Miami, FL.
MajGen Ayala was promoted to his present rank in August 2011 and named Inspector General of the Marine Corps in August 2012
Sidebar/Box: MajGen Ayala Career Highlights – at a glance
July, 2013 Becomes Commanding General, MCICOM.
August, 2012Named Inspector General of the Marine Corps.
August, 2011Promoted to Major General.
August, 2008 Promoted to Brigadier General and serves as Commanding General, 2nd
MarineLogistics Group, Camp Lejeune, NC.
2007 Receives Excellence in Military /service Award from The League of United
LatinAmerican Citizens.
January, 2006Volunteers to serve as embedded advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division in
Habbaniyah, Iraq, which included participating in a 12-monthcounter-
insurgency and combat operations in Habbaniyah, Fallujah, Nasser wa
Salaam and Ar Ramadi.
July, 2005Assigned as Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, CA.
July, 2002 Assigned as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 at 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,
Miramar, CA during which he deployed in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom andOperation Iraqi Freedom I.
July, 2001 Assigned as Chief, Humanitarian Assistance Branch at Headquarters, United
States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
July, 1994Assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, NC. While there served asExecutive Office and later Commanding Officer of the Marine Wing SupportSquadron, 271.Deployed in support Operation Sea Signal to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Cuban/Haitian refugee crisis).
August, 1990 Assigned to the newly-formed Joint Task Force (Counter Drug Operations),
FortBliss, TX.
August, 1983Assigned to Camp Pendleton, CA with the 1st Marine Division and the 1st
ForceService Support Group.
July, 1979 Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant after graduation from the University of
Texas-ElPaso.