Robert F. Castellvi is a retired United States Marine Corpsmajor general who most recently served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps from 9 October 2020 to 1 May 2021.[1] As Inspector General, Castellvi oversaw matters of institutional integrity, discipline and combat readiness in the Corps, maintaining credibility through impartial and independent inspections, assessments, inquiries, investigations, teaching, and training. He is also an ex-officio Member at the North Carolina Military Affairs Full Commission in Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina.[2]
As of 1 May 2021, Castellvi was suspended from serving as the Inspector General of the Marine Corps pending the outcome of an investigation into an AAV mishap while he was commanding general of the 1st Marine Division.[3]
Military career
Castellvi was commissioned into the Marine Corps via the NROTC program in February 1984.[4]
On 22 March 2017, then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis nominated Robert F. Castellvi to the rank of Major General while he was deputy commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (dual-hatted as 2 MEB commander). He was confirmed by the Senate on 1 May 2017.[5] He was the commander of Marine Corps Installations East from 12 July 2013 to 31 July 2015, and was succeeded by Major General Thomas D. Weidley.[6] He was also a director of the Manpower Management Division.[7]
He was formerly the commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade[1] and then the 1st Marine Division, succeeding Eric M. Smith. He served as commanding general of the 1st Marines from 6 July 2018 to 22 September 2020, passing the baton to Major General Roger B. Turner Jr.[8][9] While serving as the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, Castellvi relieved Lt. Col. Francisco Zavala, the commanding officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Castellvi relieved Zavala on 7 May 2019 for "loss of trust and confidence" in the commander's ability to lead the battalion.[10]
Suspension
On July 30, 2020, an assault amphibious vehicle (AAV) mishap off the coast of Southern California on July 30, 2020, resulted in the drowning deaths of 8 Marines and a Navy corpsman in a "preventable" accident. The Command Investigation by I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) into the AAV mishap was completed in March 2021; it "revealed a confluence of human and mechanical failures caused the sinking of the mishap AAV, and contributed to a delayed rescue effort."[11]
Castellvi was suspended from all current duties as the Marine Corps inspector general on 1 May 2021 on orders from David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, after the investigation determined that Castellvi "bears some responsibiity" for the lack of training that lead to the drownings.[12] He was the commanding general of the 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton at the time of the mishap.[12][3]
In June 2021, Marine spokespersons reported that Castellvi had been permanently relieved of duty as Inspector General and counselled by the Commandant, rendering him likely ineligible for promotion to higher rank.[13][14]
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15 MEU) investigation was ongoing at the time of Castellvi's suspension. In October 2021, the results of investigation were revealed: It confirmed training and maintenance issues, as well as determining responsibility for the failure. As a result, in addition to Castellvi losing his position as inspector general, all Marines below him in the chain of command received some level of administrative discipline.[12][15] In 2022, Secretary of the NavyCarlos Del Toro issued formal administrative censure to five senior Marine Corps and Navy officers for their roles in the AAV incident. The three investigations into the incident "revealed a 'chain of failure' at nearly every level of command."[16]
Final post and retirement
After being relieved from his position as inspector general in June 2021, Castellvi became the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations (ADC PP&O).
He retired from active duty in May 2022 after over 38 years of active duty.
Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations of the United States Marine Corps 2021–2022
Succeededby
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