President Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. David H. Berger — a decorated officer whose awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon — to head the Marine Corps, replacing the retiring Gen. Robert Neller.
Berger has been the commanding general of Combat Development Command and deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va., since August 2018.
Berger, who was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1981 after graduating from Tulane University, has advocated modernizing the Corps and called for Marines to receive new equipment faster.
“We can’t do the incremental change — we have to find new ways to operate, not just new ways of using the gear we have,” he said in September at a Modern Day Marine event.
He has served multiple tours of duty overseas, including as a company commander in Desert Storm, a regimental combat team leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and a division commander in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He’s also completed Army Ranger School, Jumpmaster School, Navy Dive School, and Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance School.
Trump has submitted the nomination to the Senate for approval. If he is confirmed, Berger will be the Marine Corps’ 38th commandant.
