Juan G. Ayala

Last updated
Juan G. Ayala
Juan G. Ayala.jpg
Born (1956-08-26) August 26, 1956 (age 66)
El Paso County, Texas
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
Service/branchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg United States Marine Corps
Years of service1979–2015 [1] [2]
Rank Major General
Commands held Marine Corps Installations Command, ADC Installations & Logistics Facilities and Services Division
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Marine Wing Support Group 37
Marine Wing Support Squadron 271
Battles/wars Iraq War

Juan Guadalupe Ayala (born August 26, 1956) [3] is a retired two-star general in the U.S. Marine Corps and the former commander of the Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) and Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations & Logistics (ADC, I&L). [4] Prior to assuming command of MCICOM, Major General Ayala served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps (IGMC). [5] During his time in the Marine Corps, he served four tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Kuwait as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Ayala is a native of El Paso, Texas. [6] During the 1950s, his father and mother emigrated from Mexico to Texas, where his father Victor Ayala worked at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. His father later opened a restaurant called Victor's Café, which was famous for its menudo, a traditional Mexican soup. [7]

After graduating from Coronado High School, Ayala attended the University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP), where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1979. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, with a commission as a second lieutenant. [6] [8] He soon married Diane Ayala, whom he met while they were attending UTEP. [7]

Ayala later earned an MBA from Campbell University and an MA in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. He also attended the Amphibious Warfare School, and the Army Command and General Staff College. [4]

Career

Ayala spent the initial years of his Marine Corps career in Okinawa, Japan, first serving at Camp Butler, and later at Camp McTureous. [1] In 1983, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, serving three years with the 1st Marine Division and three years with the 1st Force Service Support Group. [4]

In 1990, Ayala was stationed at Fort Bliss Texas, where he was assigned to the new Joint Task Force 6 for Counter Drug Operations. During his time there, the Task Force completed over 300 counterdrug interdictions and support missions along the southwest U.S. border. [1] Ayala was then stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina as part of the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, where he held several positions, including commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, and the J4 Operations Officer supporting Operation Sea Signal (JTF-160) at Guantanamo Bay Cuba (refugee operations). [4]

In 2001, he was assigned to Headquarters, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany as its humanitarian assistance branch chief. In this position, Ayala supported the U.S.’s Strategic Engagement policies through Humanitarian Assistance Program coordination for Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Baltics, the Caucasus, Russia, and Africa. [1]

One year later, Ayala became the 3d Marine Corps Aircraft Wing’s Assistant Chief of Staff G-4. In this role, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). He then became the commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Group 37, which sent him back to Iraq. In 2005, Ayala returned to Camp Pendleton, California to serve as the chief of staff of the 1st Marine Logistics Group. From January 2006 to the beginning of 2007, he deployed to Iraq for a third tour, this time as an embedded advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division in Habbaniyah, Al Anbar province. [4] There, he took part in counterinsurgency and combat operations in Habbaniyah, Fallujah, Nasser wa’ Salaam and Ar Ramadi. [1]

In 2008, then Colonel Ayala was promoted to brigadier general and became the commanding general of 2d Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (May 2008 to June 2010). During this assignment he again deployed to Iraq with his Group. Ayala was the last MLG commanding general to serve in Iraq as the Marine Corps role in Iraq ended shortly thereafter. [1]

In 2011, Ayala served as the chief of staff of United States Southern Command, during which time he was promoted to major general. [4] Prior to his appointment as Commander of MCICOM and ADC I&L, Ayala served as inspector general (IG) of the Marine Corps. [5]

General Ayala's retirement ceremony was held at Fort Bliss, in Texas, in October 2015. His retirement effective date was 1 November 2015. [2] After leaving the Marine Corps, Ayala was hired by the City of San Antonio in Texas as director of their Office of Military & Veteran Affairs. [9]

Awards and decorations

Awards

According to his military biography, while Ayala was in Command “his units […] received the following recognition: Marine Corps Aviation Association's Jim Hatch Award for the 1998 Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) of the Year (MWSS 271) and, the 2005 James McGuire Award for Exceptional Achievement (Security Battalion, Marine Wing Support Group 37). [In addition], he received the 2007 Excellence in Military Service Award from The League of United Latin American Citizens.”[ citation needed ]

Medals and Ribbons

US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Valor device.svg
1 golden star.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg U.S. Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg Combat Action Ribbon.svg United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon.svg
 
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael R. Lehnert</span> United States Marine Corps general

Michael R. Lehnert is a retired major general of the United States Marine Corps. He supervised the construction and served as the first commandant of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Wing Support Squadron 271</span> Military unit

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph J. Went</span> United States Marine Corps general

Joseph John Went is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general. His final assignment was as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of Staff. He retired in 1990 after 38 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael J. Williams</span> United States Marine Corps general

Michael J. Williams is a retired United States Marine Corps 4-star general. He served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2000 until his retirement in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith J. Stalder</span> United States Marine Corps general

Lieutenant General Keith J. Stalder is a retired United States Marine Corps general, who last commanded the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific from August 22, 2008, to September 2, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana J.H. Pittard</span>

Dana James Hillian Pittard is a retired United States Army general officer. He served as Joint Force Land Component Commander-Iraq (JFLCC-I) from June 9, 2014, during the coalition response to the incursions by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Daesh) into Iraq from Syria. Pittard was deputy commanding general of operations (DCG-O) for ARCENT, the United States Central Command/Third Army, based in Kuwait, until 2015. He was also the commanding general of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He was also Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations & Training at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, Virginia and commanding general of the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William L. Nyland</span> United States Marine Corps general

William L. "Spider" Nyland, a veteran of the Vietnam War, is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star General who served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2005. He retired from the Marine Corps in November 2005 after over 37 years of distinguished service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas M. Stone</span> United States Marine Corps general

Douglas M. Stone is a Major General, United States Marine Forces Reserve, Retired. He relinquished in 2008 the position of Deputy Commanding General, Detainee Operations, Multi-National Force-Iraq and Commander, Task Force 134, commanding all detention operations at Camp Cropper, Camp Bucca and Camp Ashraf. He was nominated for Lieutenant General and was to be head of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon E. Megee</span> United States Marine Corps general

General Vernon Edgar Megee was a United States Marine Corps general. He is recognized as a pioneer in the development of close air support for ground combat operations. He served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1956 to 1957; with his final billet from 1957 to 1959 as commanding general, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. When he retired from the Marine Corps, after 40 years of active duty service, he received a promotion to 4-star rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael P. DeLong</span> United States Marine Corps general

Michael Phillip "Rifle" DeLong was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who served as deputy commander, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. From 2000 until his retirement in 2003, DeLong was second-in-command to General Tommy Franks, who, as commander of United States Central Command, was in charge of the war on terror, including Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard P. Mills (general)</span> US Marine Corps general

Lieutenant General Richard P. Mills is a retired United States Marine Corps officer, who served as commander of the Marine Forces Reserve from 2013 to 2015 and Marine Forces North, headquartered at the Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. Previously he was deputy commandant for combat development and integration and commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Virginia, and, prior to that assignment, was commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)/Regional Command Southwest in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Taqaddum Air Base</span> Iraqi airbase

Al Taqaddum Airbase, or Al Taqaddum AB, , is an air base that is located in central Iraq, approximately 74 kilometers west of Baghdad, at Habbaniyah. The airfield is served by two runways 13,000 and 12,000 feet (3,700 m) long. Since 2004, it has been known as Camp Taqaddum. It was formerly known as Tammuz Airbase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Smith (general)</span> 36th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

Eric M. Smith is a United States Marine Corps general who serves as the 36th assistant commandant of the Marine Corps since 8 October 2021. He most recently served as the deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, being succeeded by Karsten Heckl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary L. Thomas (general)</span> US Marine Corps general

Gary Lee Thomas is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general. He was most recently the 35th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen Thomas is a naval aviator who flew the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and participated in combat operations during the Gulf War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the War in Afghanistan. He has commanded at the squadron and Wing level and also lead Marine Corps aviation's weapons school. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and National Defense University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl E. Mundy III</span> United States Marine Corps general

Carl Epting Mundy III is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps, who last served as commander of the United States Marine Forces Central Command. He previously served as commander of the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command. He is the son of Carl Epting Mundy Jr., who was a Marine Corps general and Commandant of the Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven R. Rudder</span> United States Marine Corps general

Steven R. Rudder is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and Naval Aviator. Rudder has served as Deputy Commandant for Aviation, USMC and Commanding General, United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Trollinger</span> U.S. Marine Corps general

Matthew G. Trollinger is a United States Marine Corps major general who serves as the commander of United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command since May 23, 2022. He most recently served as the Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs of the Joint Staff. He was previously the Commanding General of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade from July 2018 to July 6, 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Major General Juan G. Ayala. Commander, Marine Corps Installations Command (ADC I&L Facilities and Service Division)". USMC I&L. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 Burge, David (25 October 2015). "El Pasoan Marine Maj. Gen. Ayala to retire". El Paso Times . Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "1956 births". Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997. Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MajGen Hudson is New Commander, MCICOM" (PDF). USMC MCICOM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  5. 1 2 Runyon, Rex (June 15, 2010). "MajGen Juan G. Ayala Becomes Commander, MCICOM for Marine Corps". USMC MCICOM. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  6. 1 2 Burge, David (11 July 2013). "El Pasoan leads Marine Corps Installations Command". El Paso Times . Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  7. 1 2 Roberts, Chris (20 October 2012). "Marine general who led troops in Iraq returns to El Paso". El Paso Times . Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Accomplished Alumni, Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala: University of Texas at El Paso". Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Office of Military & Veteran Affairs". City of San Antonio. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.