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Brig. Gen. John M. Jansen passes the unit colors to Brig. Gen. Chris A. McPhillips during the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade change of command ceremony at the theater on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, July 21, 2017. The ceremony symbolizes the exchange of responsibility to the new commanding general. McPhillips, the former 1st Marine Aircraft Wing assistant commander in Okinawa, Japan, assumed responsibility as the new commanding general of 3rd MEB. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Neumann)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Deseree Kamm

The commanding general of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Brig. Gen. John Jansen, relinquished command to Brig. Gen. Chris A. McPhillips at the Camp Courtney theater, July 21, 2017

24 Jul 2017 | Lance Cpl. Andrew Neumann 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade

“I have never seen an organization so small do so much,” Jansen said.

According to Jansen, there was no moment greater than the other because every operation they conducted was essential to 3rd MEB and the Asia-Pacific region.

As the command element, Jansen and his team were responsible for providing expeditionary command and control for all contingency, crisis response and theater-level operations in order to mitigate regional insecurity with an underlying mission to the alert contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Jansen has spent the last 31 years leading Marines and is set to move on to assume the duties of Commandant of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resources Strategy at the National Defense University aboard Fort Lesley J. Mcnair in Washington, D.C.

McPhillips, coming from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, as the assistant wing commander, assumed command and said he is looking forward to continuing the successful operations that 3rd MEB Marines and Sailors have done in the past.

“To command Marines is a privilege, especially 3rd MEB,” said McPhillips. “We will continue to build relationships and help our allies and partners; that’s what we’re here to do. To make sure that 3rd MEB continues to uphold its legacy and do the great things they’ve always done.”