U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B Savage, left, the outgoing commanding general of 1st Marine Division, and Brig. Gen. Andrew T. Priddy, the incoming commander, salute during a pass and review as part of a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 29, 2026. (Stella Tedesco/U.S. Marine Corps)
Brig. Gen. Andrew T. Priddy assumed command of the 1st Marine Division on Friday during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.
Priddy was previously Chief of Staff for Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO.
The command was relinquished by Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, who has been nominated to be the commanding general for Marine Corps Training and Education Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
“To the Marines and sailors of the 1st Marine Division, I look forward to the opportunity to serve alongside each of you here or in harm’s way,” Priddy said. “You provide a level of certainty. ... When the nation calls, we’ll be ready to answer that call. We do it not because it is easy, but because of what’s expected of us as Marines and sailors of the 1st Marine Division.”
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, right, the outgoing commanding general of 1st Marine Division, passes the colors to Brig. Gen. Andrew T. Priddy, the incoming commander, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., on May 29, 2026. (Stella Tedesco/U.S. Marine Corps)
Priddy was born in Michigan and raised in Channahon, Ill. He received his commission in the Marine Corps in 1995 from the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in ocean engineering.
He has served as a rifle platoon commander and various instructor, operations and staff officer positions during his more than 30-year Marine Corps career. He has deployed to Okinawa, Afghanistan and Iraq. After attending the Naval War College, Priddy was selected as the Marine Corps Fellow to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C.
Priddy served as the Senior Aide-de-Camp to the 36th and 37th Commandants of the Marine Corps. His prior commands include Commanding General of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and the Deputy Commanding General of II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF).
Priddy and his wife Kirsten have three grown children: Moya, Jack, and Marin.
