Headquarters Marine Corps

MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms, Calif. -- The former Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division, for the past year took command of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command Tuesday morning during a change-of-command ceremony on base.

Brig. Gen. Christian B. Cowdrey succeeds Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Weber, who assumes command of the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan after serving two years as the Commanding General of the Combat Center.

Cowdrey is not new to Twentynine Palms.  His previous duties here include director of the Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group and commanding officer of the 7th Marine Regiment.  He served in Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as the Operations Staff Officer, 3rd MAW.  He was also deployed to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope.  He was assigned to the Joint Staff as division chief for the U.S. Central Command Division, Operations Directorate, from June 1999 until June 2000, and to the Deputy Director of Operations, Operations Team 3, National Military Command Center, from June 2000 until September 2001.

Cowdrey earned his bachelor?s degree from the University of Maryland.  Since receiving his commission in May of 1974, he has also graduated from numerous military schools, including the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the U.S. Army?s Advanced Operation Arts Studies Fellowship in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

During his 28 years of service, Cowdrey has earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and a Combat Action Ribbon.