Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling has been appointed as the new commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific at Camp Smith.

Robling will also serve as commanding general for Fleet Marine Forces Pacific and for and Marine Corps Bases Pacific. Robling now serves in the Pentagon as deputy commandant for Marine Corps aviation.

He will replace Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, who is retiring his summer. 

Marine Forces Pacific, situated at Camp Smith on Halawa Heights, is the largest field command in the Marine Corps. About 74,000 sailors and Marines in the Pacific are under the command.

Robling entered the Marine Corps in 1976 after graduating from Central Washington University with a degree in Business Administration. Following graduation from the Basic School in April 1977, he began flight training and earned his wings in November 1978. Upon completing F-4 Phantom fighter jet training, he reported to Marine Corps Air Station at Kaneohe Bay and joined the "Lancers" of VMFA-212. He has flown more than 5,200 hours in tactical jet and rotary wing aircraft.

More recently, Robling commanded the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing from 2007-2009. In September 2009, Robling assumed command of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan until transferring to Headquarters Marine Corps in January of 2011 as deputy commandant for aviation.