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CG 

Brigadier General
Frederick M. Padilla

Commanding General
3d Marine Division




Commanding General

Brigadier General Frederick M. Padilla was born to a career Air Force officer. He graduated from East Carolina University in 1982 and was commissioned  a second lieutenant in 1983 via the Officer Candidate Course.

Upon completing The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, he was assigned to 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander  and Battalion Adjutant.

In 1987, he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group-42, Detachment A, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida, as the Command Adjutant. He was transferred in 1988 to the Marine Detachment,  USS CANOPUS (AS 34) for duty as Commanding  Officer.

In 1991, he reported to 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. He was assigned as the Commanding  Officer, Company L, and later as the Commanding  Officer, Weapons Company. During this tour, he participated in Operation RESTORE HOPE in Somalia.

In 1993, he was reassigned as the Inspector-Instructor, Weapons Company, 2d Battalion, 23d Marines, Port Hueneme, California. He transferred in 1997 to Joint Task Force Six, El Paso, Texas, where he served in the J-3/5 followed by an assignment  as Secretary of the Joint Staff.

He reported to 1st Marine Division in 2000 as the G-3 Operations Officer and subsequently as the Commanding  Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines where he participated in combat operations during Operation ENDURING  FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

He reported to the Joint Staff J-8 in 2004 for duty as Branch Chief of the Joint Requirements  Oversight Council Secretariat.

He assumed command of the School of Infantry West, Camp Pendleton, in 2006 and reported to the Marine Corps Combat Development  Command in 2008 for duty as the Chief of Staff.

In August 2009, he reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, for duty as the Commanding General, MCRD.

He took command of the Third Marine Division in June 2011.

Brigadier General Padilla is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Air Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College and Naval War College. He has a B.A. in Geography and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies.