Richard P. Mills (USMC General)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Richard P. Mills is a senior United States Marine Corps
officer and is currently the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, VA. His last assignment was as the commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)/Regional Command Southwest
in Afghanistan
.
, Mills graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a BA in political science and a minor in history and was commissioned in 1975 as a Second Lieutenant
via Officer Candidate School
.
Mills reported to 1st Battalion
, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton
where he served until 1978.
Following that he was assigned for a year to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa
, Japan
.
From 1979 to 1982 he was part of the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island
, South Carolina
. Upon his promotion to Captain he assumed command of Company D, Recruit Training Regiment.
Captain Mills studied at the Amphibious Warfare School
in Quantico
, Virginia
, then moved to the 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune
, North Carolina
.
Mills was promoted to Major
in 1986 and assigned to Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1986 to 1989. He later attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College
, then spent a year as a Military Observer with the United Nations
in Palestine
.
Mills was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
and served as the Operations Officer of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) from 1993 to 1995. Following that he was assigned to the staff of the Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet in Gaeta
, Italy
. He returned to the 2nd Marine Division in 1997 when he assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.
Lieutenant Colonel Mills studied at the UK Royal College of Defence Studies
in London
in 1999. before returning to II Marine Expeditionary Force.
He was selected to command the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in 2000 and promoted to Colonel
. Under his command the 24th MEU (SOC) deployed in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo
, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan
, and combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of Task Force Tarawa
.
In June 2003 Colonel Mills reported to Headquarters, United States European Command
in Stuttgart
, Germany
as the Assistant Chief of Staff. Upon his promotion to Brigadier General
in May 2004 he became the Deputy Director of Operations at EUCOM. In 2006 he was assigned to the Headquarters of the Marine Corps as Director, Manpower Management Division.
In May 2007 Brigadier General Mills became commander of the 1st Marine Division and spent most of the next two years in Iraq.
He was promoted to Major General
in late 2007 and from October 2007 to January 2009 served in a dual role as Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division and Commander, Ground Combat Element, Multi-national Forces – West in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Upon his return from Iraq, Major General Mills continued as Assistant Division Commander until July 2009 when he resumed command of the 1st Marine Division.
In December 2009 Major General Mills was selected to command the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), deployed to Afghanistan in April 2010, and assumed command of all Marine combat units in the country. As part of a restructuring of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, Regional Command South (commanded by British Major General Nick Carter
) was split into two commands. Carter remained in charge of Kandahar
and Mills became the commander of the newly formed Regional Command Southwest
and took under command 8,000 of the 9,500 British troops in Afghanistan, as well as 20,000 U.S. Marines in Helmand Province
.
In Afghanistan, Mills made clear that his objective involved more than just victory on the battlefield. On the importance of training Afghan forces to succeed, he has been quoted as saying “We will be here with them as we develop the Afghan security forces to eventually take over our role, so we can leave,” On the importance of not leaving Afghanistan until the country is ready, he has also been reported as saying the Afghans “have been very, very concerned we may leave them prematurely.”
After his return from Afghanistan, Mills was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
in July 2011 and replaced Lieutenant General George Flynn as Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, VA.
Lieutenant General Mills has a reputation for having a good sense of humor and being open to subordinates, officers have told reporters. Junior officers are “not afraid to approach him”.
Mills is an avid fan of the New York Giants
football team.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Richard P. Mills is a senior United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officer and is currently the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, VA. His last assignment was as the commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)/Regional Command Southwest
Regional Command Southwest
Regional Command is an international military formation, of roughly division size, which is one of the components of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. It was formed in July 2010 largely from an area previously in Regional Command South. It is headquartered at Camp...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Biography
A native of Huntington, New YorkHuntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
, Mills graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a BA in political science and a minor in history and was commissioned in 1975 as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
via Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)
The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School is the entry-level training for Marine officers, equivalent to recruit training for enlisted Marines. Located at Marine Corps Base Quantico, the school trains, screens, and evaluates potential Marine Corps officers...
.
Mills reported to 1st Battalion
1st Battalion 5th Marines
1st Battalion, 5th Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 800 Marines and sailors. Nicknamed Geronimo, it falls under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division...
, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
where he served until 1978.
Following that he was assigned for a year to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
From 1979 to 1982 he was part of the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Upon his promotion to Captain he assumed command of Company D, Recruit Training Regiment.
Captain Mills studied at the Amphibious Warfare School
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
in Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, then moved to the 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Mills was promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1986 and assigned to Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1986 to 1989. He later attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
, then spent a year as a Military Observer with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in Palestine
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
.
Mills was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and served as the Operations Officer of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) from 1993 to 1995. Following that he was assigned to the staff of the Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet in Gaeta
Gaeta
Gaeta is a city and comune in the province of Latina, in Lazio, central Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is 120 km from Rome and 80 km from Naples....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He returned to the 2nd Marine Division in 1997 when he assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.
Lieutenant Colonel Mills studied at the UK Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1999. before returning to II Marine Expeditionary Force.
He was selected to command the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in 2000 and promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Under his command the 24th MEU (SOC) deployed in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of Task Force Tarawa
Task Force Tarawa
Task Force Tarawa was the name given to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. They were a Marine Air-Ground Task Force commanded by Brigadier General Richard F...
.
In June 2003 Colonel Mills reported to Headquarters, United States European Command
United States European Command
The United States European Command is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel...
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as the Assistant Chief of Staff. Upon his promotion to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in May 2004 he became the Deputy Director of Operations at EUCOM. In 2006 he was assigned to the Headquarters of the Marine Corps as Director, Manpower Management Division.
In May 2007 Brigadier General Mills became commander of the 1st Marine Division and spent most of the next two years in Iraq.
He was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in late 2007 and from October 2007 to January 2009 served in a dual role as Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division and Commander, Ground Combat Element, Multi-national Forces – West in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Upon his return from Iraq, Major General Mills continued as Assistant Division Commander until July 2009 when he resumed command of the 1st Marine Division.
In December 2009 Major General Mills was selected to command the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), deployed to Afghanistan in April 2010, and assumed command of all Marine combat units in the country. As part of a restructuring of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, Regional Command South (commanded by British Major General Nick Carter
Nick Carter (British Army officer)
Major General Nicholas Patrick "Nick" Carter CBE DSO is a senior British Army officer and formerly Commander of combined forces, including British Forces, in Southern Afghanistan.-Military career:...
) was split into two commands. Carter remained in charge of Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
and Mills became the commander of the newly formed Regional Command Southwest
Regional Command Southwest
Regional Command is an international military formation, of roughly division size, which is one of the components of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. It was formed in July 2010 largely from an area previously in Regional Command South. It is headquartered at Camp...
and took under command 8,000 of the 9,500 British troops in Afghanistan, as well as 20,000 U.S. Marines in Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
.
In Afghanistan, Mills made clear that his objective involved more than just victory on the battlefield. On the importance of training Afghan forces to succeed, he has been quoted as saying “We will be here with them as we develop the Afghan security forces to eventually take over our role, so we can leave,” On the importance of not leaving Afghanistan until the country is ready, he has also been reported as saying the Afghans “have been very, very concerned we may leave them prematurely.”
After his return from Afghanistan, Mills was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in July 2011 and replaced Lieutenant General George Flynn as Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, VA.
Lieutenant General Mills has a reputation for having a good sense of humor and being open to subordinates, officers have told reporters. Junior officers are “not afraid to approach him”.
Mills is an avid fan of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
football team.
External links
- Lieutenant General Richard P. Mills Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration at USMC Manpower & Reserve Affairs website
- US Marine Commander Major-General Richard Mills tough but approachable at The Sunday Times Online (UK)
- British Troops in Afghanistan to get U.S. Commander at Thomson Reuters Foundation Alertnet
- Flag ceremony marks new command and control structure in southern Afghanistan
- Afghan Effort Fruitful but Fragile, Commander Says at Signon San Diego News
- Mills takes over helm of MCCDC