New era coming for Marine Corps Logistics Command

MCLB-ALBANY — The two top positions at Marine Corps Logistics Command — the role of commanding general and sergeant major — are about to be turned over into new hands.

Those positions currently belong to Maj. Gen. John Broadmeadow and Sgt. Maj. Joseph Davenport III.

Broadmeadow, commanding general of LOGCOM since July 2013 when he replaced Maj. Gen. Chuck Hudson, will be leaving May 12 to continue his career in Washington, D.C. as the vice director J-4 for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he will still be working in the logistics arena at The Pentagon.

“The command has gone by so fast,” he remarked Thursday. “Giving up a command is never a fun thing. You get to really understand how people make a difference.

“(The command) has done some great things across the Marine Corps. Members of the command that work (here) have an impact on Marines across the world. (We) don’t like going to staff jobs, but it’s a good job.”

Like many before him, he will miss the people — especially the warm reception he and his family has gotten from leaders in the community.

“We will miss the community in a big way … We won’t have (the same community feel) in D.C.,” the major general said.

Broadmeadow graduated from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., in May 1983 and was commissioned a second lieutenant the following July. His command billets include commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 deploying to Al Anbar, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), commanding officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and team chief and senior advisor to the 7th Iraqi Infantry Division in Iraq for OIF.

As a general officer he was assigned as the deputy commanding general of Marine Forces Pacific in August 2009. During this tour he also served as the combined force land component commander for Exercise Rim of the Pacific ‘10 and as the deputy commander for Joint Task Force 505 in Japan for Operations Tomodachi and Pacific Passage. Broadmeadow assumed command of 1st Marine Logistics Group in June 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan in February 2012 for Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon redeploying, in December 2012 he assumed the concurrent duty as commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

He was promoted to major general on July 3, 2013, shortly before assuming his post in Albany.

Upon coming into LOGCOM, Broadmeadow set the major goals of doing its role of resetting equipment, preparing to work in a fiscally dynamic environment, preparing for the Corps to go back to its expeditionary roots and working in a way to make the command bigger and better — which he said it has done well in, because the people in the command value what they do.

To that end, the outgoing commanding general said he feels he is leaving LOGCOM to Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw in good hands.

“I received it in good hands … (Crenshaw) is very qualified,” he said.

“(Working in Albany has) been something. It’s been fantastic.”

Broadmeadow is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School and Command and Staff College, a 2001 graduate of the U.S. Army War College, the Joint Forces Staff College in 2008 and the National Defense University’s CAPSTONE Course in 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Norwich University, a dual Master of Arts in business administration and computer resources management from Webster University and a Master of Science in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Davenport, who has served as the senior enlisted advisor for the LOGCOM commanding general since taking the post in October 2012, enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1983 and graduated from recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. in June 1984.

His career in the Marine Corps will end on June 19 when he retires and moves on to southern Virginia.

“Albany has been great. We’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “The community reception has been unlike we have seen. Albany is a unique community because the Marines are the community.

“I usually don’t get attached … it’s going to be hard.”

Davenport will be succeeded by Sgt. Maj. Stephanie Murphy when he retires, and leaves a command he has become proud to be a part of.

“LOGCOM has come leaps and bounds (in three years),” the outgoing sergeant major said. “When I look at the progress we have made … we’re on the map. People know where Albany, Ga. is. They never confuse it with Albany, N.Y.”

Davenport was assigned as the Sergeant Major of MARFOR UNITAS, II MEF on Jan. 5, 2004. He assumed the post of sergeant major of Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group on Aug. 15, 2004, and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2005-March 2006.

Davenport was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps, Reserve Affairs Division on Sept. 11, 2006, and deployed to Iraq in August 2009-August 2010 in support of OIF as the senior enlisted advisor for the Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq (MNSTC-I)/Iraq Security Assistance Mission. He later transferred to Iraq Training and Advisory Mission as part of the restructuring of MNSTC-I under United States Forces-Iraq.

In August 2010, Davenport reported for duty as the sergeant major at Headquarters and Service Battalion, Henderson Hall and relinquished his post September 2012. The following month, he was slated to become the sergeant major at LOGCOM.

“Broadmeadow came to the front and made major changes,” Davenport said. “I’m more than delighted to end my career here. My wife is more excited than I am (about retirement from the Corps), and of course I’ll need to have a job.

“During sequestration, people wanted to work. They never got angry; they got frustrated. That’s a good way to go. It doesn’t get better.”

Davenport holds a Bachelor in Arts degree in history from Texas A&M University and a Master in Science degree in human resource management from Strayer University. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (with gold star in lieu of second award), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with gold star in lieu of second award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.