Robert F. Castellvi

Major General Robert F. Castellvi is currently the commander of the 1st Marine Division which is based in Camp Pendleton.[1]

Major General

Robert F. Castellvi
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Unit1st Marine Division
Commands held
2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Awards

He is also an Ex-Officio Member at the North Carolina Military Affairs Full Commission which is in Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina.[2]

Career

He was formerly the commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.[3]

Robert F. Castellvi has participated in Operation Earnest Will in the Persian Gulf with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 1985, Operation Inherent Resolve as the deputy commanding general for operations, Operation RESTORE HOPE, and Operation Desert Storm.[4][5][3] On March 22, 2017, the Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis nominated Robert F. Castellvi to the rank of Major General while he was a deputy commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.[6] [7] He was the commander of Marine Corps Installations East from July 12, 2013 to August 6, 2017.[8] He was also a director of the Manpower Management Division.[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 May 7, 2019 for "loss of trust and confidence" in the commander's ability to lead the battalion.

Defense media outlet Task & Purpose later reported that Zavala had been relieved because of "credible allegations of domestic violence," against his spouse.[10] At the time of his relief, Castellvi did not charge Zavala with any violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, even after the conclusion of a command investigation conducted at the 1st Marine Division.[11] After his relief, Castellvi transferred Zavala to I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Castellvi later charged Zavala with assault, destruction of property, making false official statements and conduct unbecoming an officer.[12] Castellvi made Zavala aware of these charges on August 8, 2019, and the 1st Marine Division released the charge sheet[13] to the public on September 16, 2019. The charge sheet includes a violation of Article 128 of the UCMJ that charges that Zavala did "on or about 23 December 2018, unlawfully strike...his wife...on her face and body by using his hands and body to strike her on the face, slam her into the bed, slam her against the wall, and throw her to the ground."[14]

Along with the atypical timing of the charges, the 1st Marine Division and Marine Corps have not provided the public any information or documentation on the proceedings regarding Zavala's charges. Castellvi has made no public statement to follow up the charges against Zavala.

Education

Major General Castellvi is a graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned his Marine Corps commission through the NROTC program.[1] He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advance Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, The School of Advanced Warfighting, as well as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Castellvi also earned Master's Degrees from the Marine Corps University, the National Defense University, and Capitol College.[15]

Awards and decorations

Major General Robert F. Castellvi is the recipient of the following awards:[16]

Parachutist Badge
Rifle Expert Badge (7th award)

References
  1. "Major General Robert F. Castellvi". United States Marines. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  2. "NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY AFFAIRS FULL COMMISSION MEETING" (PDF). Government. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  3. "Leadership". United States Navy. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  4. Preston McDonald (June 12, 2015). "2nd MEB bids farewell to Simcock, welcomes Castellv". Dvidshub. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  5. "Marine Corps Biography: Brigadier General". Semper fi parents. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  6. officer. "Officer Assignments". Officerassignments.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  7. Jim Mattis. "General Officer Announcements". US Department of Defense. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  8. Mike McHugh (August 7, 2017). "Brig.Gen. Julian D. Alford to lead MCIEAST". JD news. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  9. "FY20 U.S. MARINE CORPS OFFICER PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS". Marines. April 5, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  10. "Lt. Col. in charge of Corps' 1st Recon was fired over 'credible' allegations of domestic violence". Task & Purpose. 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  11. "Investigation shows Lt. Col. in charge of Corps' 1st Recon was fired for alleged 'misconduct' but has not been charged". Task & Purpose. 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  12. "Marines release new details in domestic violence case against fired Camp Pendleton battalion commander". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  13. "Zavala Charge Sheet" (PDF).
  14. Zavala charge sheet
  15. "Major General Robert F. Castellvi". Marine Corps. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  16. "Marine Corps Brigadier General Biographies". Semperfiparents. October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
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