A look at Twentynine Palms’ lineage of command

Brig. Gen. George W. Smith, Jr. (right) relinquishes command and hands the installation colors to Maj. Gen. David H. Berger (left) during a change of command ceremony held Friday, January 11, 2013 at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. Smith has been in command since July 2011. Berger previously served as commanding general of the 1st Marine Division (forward) at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. His new responsibilities include a dual-role of command in which he oversees the installation and also the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command. Passing of a unit's flag from one commander to the next is a military tradition during a change of command. Crystal Chatham, The Desert Sun

On Friday afternoon, Maj. Gen. David H. Berger assumed command of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center and Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command in Twentynine Palms. As he accepted the Combat Center colors from outgoing commander, Brig. Gen. George W. Smith, Jr., he added the latest stars to the installation’s command lineage.

Looking back at the long line, at least 36 generals have handed down the installation colors at least 36 times. Maj. Gen. J. I. Hopkins is the only member of that elite club to accept command of the base twice. He first served as commanding general from July 19, 1989 to August 14, 1990. After deployment to Saudi Arabia with the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade and a merge with I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) for the duration of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Hopkins returned to Twentynine Palms to serve in the base’s top slot again March 24, 1991 to May 31, 1992.

Twentynine Palms’ first commander was not a general. Higher grade commanders were put in place as the installation grew over five years and turned into what would become the Combat Center.

Commanders and Commanding Generals of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (first to most recent):

• [Lt. Col. Frederick H. Scantling: Dec. 15, 1952 - July 1953]
• [Col. Francis R. Brink: July 1953 - Dec. 29, 1954]
• [Col. John S. Oldfield: Dec. 29, 1954 - Jan. 30, 1957]
• Brig. Gen. Thomas G. McFarland: Feb. 1, 1957 – June 27, 1957
• Brig. Gen. Randall M. Victory: June 28, 1957 – Dec. 30, 1958
• Maj. Gen. Alpha L. Bowser: Dec. 31, 1958 – Sept. 29, 1960
• Brig. Gen. Lewis J. Fields: Sept. 30, 1960 – Aug. 30, 1962
• Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Stewart: Aug. 31, 1962 – March 17, 1964
• Brig. Gen. William K. Jones: March 18, 1964 – Dec. 27, 1965
• Brig. Gen. Virgil W. Banning: Dec. 28, 1965 – July 28, 1966
• [Col. Henry M. Wellman, Jr: July 29, 1966 - October 30, 1966]
• Brig. Gen. Regan Fuller: Oct. 31, 1966 – March 25, 1969
• Brig. Gen. Carl W. Hoffman: March 26, 1969 – April 23, 1971
• Brig. Gen. Paul G. Graham: April 24, 1971 – Oct. 16, 1972
• Maj. Gen. Kenneth J. Houghton: Oct. 17, 1972 – April 30, 1973
• Brig. Gen. William G. Joslyn: May 1, 1973 – May 1, 1974
• Maj. Gen. Clarence H. Schmid: May 10, 1974 – July 17, 1975
• Brig. Gen. Ernest R. Reid, Jr.: July 18, 1975 – June 29, 1976
• Maj. Gen. Edward J. Megarr: June 30, 1976 – March 18, 1978
• Brig. Gen. Harold G. Glasgow: March 20, 1978 – April 10, 1981
• Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Knotts: April 11, 1981 – July 14, 1983
• Brig. Gen. William R. Etnyre: July 15, 1983 – June 14, 1985
• Maj. Gen. John P. Monahan: June 15, 1985 – May 12, 1986
• Maj. Gen. Ernest T. Cook, Jr.: May 13, 1986 – Aug. 27, 1987
• Maj. Gen. Gene A. Deegan: Aug. 28, 1987 – July 18, 1989
• Maj. Gen. John I. Hopkins: July 19, 1989 – Aug. 14, 1990
• Brig. Gen. J.E. Livingston: Aug. 15, 1990 – March 23, 1991
• Maj. Gen. John I. Hopkins: March 24, 1991 – May 31, 1992
• Brig. Gen. Russell H. Sutton: June 1, 1992 – Aug. 15, 1994
• Maj. Gen. Leslie M. Palm: Aug. 16, 1994 – June 18, 1996
• Maj. Gen. Ronald G. Richard: June 18, 1996 – June 10, 1998
• Maj. Gen. Clifford L. Stanley: June 10, 1998 – Aug. 4, 2000
• Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Weber: Aug. 4, 2000 – May 21, 2002
• Brig. Gen. Christian B. Cowdrey: May 22, 2002 – June 21, 2004
• Maj. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer: June 22, 2004 – Nov. 9, 2005
• Maj. Gen. Douglas M. Stone: Nov. 10, 2005 – April 5, 2007
• Brig. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese: April 5, 2007 – May 22, 2008 (currently serves as Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force)
• Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus: May 22, 2008 – Sept. 24, 2009 (currently serves as Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force [Forward])
• Brig. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III: Sept. 24, 2009 – July 6, 2011 (currently serves as Director of Operations, Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps)
• Brig. Gen. George W. Smith, Jr.: July 7, 2011 – Jan. 11, 2013 (slated to begin serving as Deputy Commander, II Marine Expeditionary Force [Forward] for Security Force Assistance in late January)
• Maj. Gen. David H. Berger: Jan. 11, 2013 – present