WASHINGTON, DC -- Brigadier General Jack A. Davis assumed command of the 4th Marine Division from Major General Arnold L. Punaro during a change-of-command ceremony Saturday at the Marine Corps War Memorial.
Brigadier General Davis' most recent duty was as the Director for Operations Divisions, Plans, Policies & Operations, at the Pentagon.
"It's a humbling experience to take charge of 20,000 Marines and have them prepared to go to war," Brigadier General Davis said before a formation of his 4th Marine Division troops, and before an audience of family, friends, fellow Marines, and Veteran 4th Division Marines who fought at the battle of Iwo Jima.
Brigadier General Davis (major general select) began his Marine Corps career upon receiving a commission to Second Lieutenant after graduation from Indiana State University in 1968.
His early duties included serving as an infantry platoon leader, during the Vietnam War, a series and company commander at Parris Island, SC, a company commander at the Marine Barracks in Great Lakes, Ill, and as the Company Commander, H&S Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, NC.
While in the Marine Reserves, Brigadier General Davis served as a battalion operations officer, executive officer, commanding officer, and also as an Assistant G-3 for the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.
Conflict in the Persian Gulf returned Brigadier General Davis to active duty, during which time he serving as the Commanding Officer, Combat Replacement Regiment, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
Following the Persian Gulf War, Brigadier General Davis earned the appointment as the Director of the Drug Reduction Task Force. Returning to the Marine Reserves, Brigadier General Davis served as the Chief of Staff for the II MEF Augmentation Command Element.
Brigadier General Davis was promoted to his current rank in May 1997 and commanded the 4th Force Services Support Group until May 1999. In April and May of 1999, he additionally served as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, Parris Island, SC. Also in May 1999, Brigadier General Davis returned to the II MEF Augmentation Command as the Commanding General.
During allied operations in Kosovo, Brigadier General Davis was designated Deputy Commander, Marine Forces, Joint Task Force Noble Anvil, Naples, Italy.