Brig. Gen. Joseph V. Medina passes the Camp Butler colors to Brig. Gen. Mary Ann Krusa- Dossin, symbolically handing over his command, as Sgt. Maj. Robert E. Mastriano looks on at a change-of-commanding-general ceremony Wednesday at Camp Foster, Okinawa. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Brig. Gen. Joseph V. Medina passes the Camp Butler colors to Brig. Gen. Mary Ann Krusa- Dossin, symbolically handing over his command, as Sgt. Maj. Robert E. Mastriano looks on at a change-of-commanding-general ceremony Wednesday at Camp Foster, Okinawa. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Two platoons of Marines, representing the Marines of Headquarters and Service Battalion, await the start of the ceremony in front of Building 1 on Camp Foster on Wednesday. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band performs at the ceremony. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Camp Butler welcomed a new commanding officer Wednesday evening.
Brig. Gen. Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin accepted command of the base and the position of deputy commander of Marine Corps Bases, Japan, from Brig. Gen. Joseph V. Medina at a ceremony in front of Building 1.
This will be Krusa-Dossin’s third Japan tour. Her previous assignments were at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in 1979 and Camp Butler in 1992.
Medina told the audience and assembled Marines and sailors, “I could ask for no better replacement than (Brig. Gen.) Krusa-Dossin.”
Listing her accomplishments and past commands, he said her experience speaks for itself.
Krusa-Dossin’s last command was as director for Marine Corps Public Affairs.
“We put strong leaders in public affairs, and there’s no better leader and commanding general than Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin,” Medina said.
Krusa-Dossin thanked Medina and his staff for a smooth transition and told the assembled Marines she “looked forward to the challenge of supporting the Marines, sailors and families” here.
Medina will remain on Okinawa and serve as the III Marine Expeditionary Force deputy commander and commander of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Camp Courtney.
