Joseph V. Medina - Currently

Currently

On July 8, 2005, Medina was named Commanding General Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler and Deputy Commander, Marine Corps Bases, Japan. On September 6, 2007, Medina handed over responsibilities as commander of Marine Corps Base Camp Butler to BGen Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin.

On April 27, 2007, BGen Mastin M. Robeson passed on the command of the 3rd Marine Division to Medina in a ceremony held at Camp Courtney in Okinawa.

While briefly serving as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division, Medina remained dual-hatted as Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Brigade. BGen Medina relinquished command of the 3rd Marine Division on June 11, 2007 to Major General Robert B. Neller.

As of May 2007, Medina is one of four Hispanics to hold the rank of Brigadier General and above in the United States Marine Corps. The other three are Major General William D. Catto, Commanding General Marine Corps Systems Command, Brigadier General Angela Salinas, Chief of Staff Marine Corps Recruiting Command and the first Hispanic female to obtain a general rank in the Marines, and Brigadier General David C. Garza, Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Central Command.

Medina who was featured on Hispanic Business magazine on October 2006 as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States, is an advocate of Hispanic recruitment in the Marine Corps and has been quoted as saying:

"We understand the importance of diversity in the Marine Corps," said the senior ranking Hispanic in the Marine Corps. "That's why the Marine Corps is so strong... we are able to embrace all different elements of society to make the Corps a strong organization."

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