Camp Pendleton commanding general tapped to lead Marine Forces Pacific

The head of all Marines at Camp Pendleton has been tapped as the new three-star general leading all Marine forces in the Pacific, the Pentagon announced today.

Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, currently the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton in California, will become the new commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific; and commanding general of Fleet Marine Force Pacific.

Berger will replace Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan, who assumed leadership of Marine Forces Pacific in August 2014.

The promotion still must be approved by the U.S. Senate.

From Camp Smith, the commanding general of Marine Forces Pacific is the largest field command in the U.S. Marine Corps, extending from California to Japan and Okinawa. There are approximately 86,000 Marines and sailors under his command.

Berger was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1981 following graduation from Tulane University.

He has served as platoon commander in 1st Marine Division, and later as company commander and Battalion Operations Officer in the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion during Operation Desert Storm.

Berger commanded the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines from 2002 to 2004, deploying to Haiti in support of Operation Secure Tomorrow.

As a colonel, Berger commanded Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan as the commanding general of 1st Marine Division.

Berger served as commanding general of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center from 2013 to 2014.

Berger holds a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and an M.S. in Military Studies.