Gen. David Berger has begun his tenure as the U.S. Marine Corps’ 38th commandant and a Joint Chiefs of Staff member, succeeding Gen. Robert Neller. Berger received commandant authority during a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, the Department of Defense said Thursday.
“He is a visionary who has committed to marching the Marine Corps down the path to modernizing for future warfare,” said Mark Esper, acting secretary of defense and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient. Esper added that Neller’s leadership contributions to USMC’s transition from counterinsurgency to a training-focused approach in preparation for possible conflicts with competitors.
“He could always be counted on to advocate for the men and women of the Corps and of the joint force,” Esper said about Berger’s predecessor.
President Trump nominated Berger for the position in March.