Brigadier General Frederick M. Padilla
Commanding General
Eastern Recruiting Region
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

Brigadier General Frederick M. Padilla was born in April 1959 in Torrejon, Spain, to a career Air Force officer. He graduated from East Carolina University in 1982 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1983 via the Officer Candidate Course.

Upon completing The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, he was assigned to 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander and Battalion Adjutant.

In 1987, he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group-42, Detachment A, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida, as the Command Adjutant. He was transferred in 1988 to the Marine Detachment, USS CANOPUS (AS 34) for duty as Commanding Officer.

In 1991, he reported to 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. He was assigned as the Commanding Officer, Company L, and later as the Commanding Officer, Weapons Company. During this tour, he participated in Operation RESTORE HOPE in Somalia.

In 1993, he was reassigned as the Inspector-Instructor, Weapons Company, 2d Battalion, 23d Marines, Port Hueneme, California. He transferred in 1997 to Joint Task Force Six, El Paso, Texas, where he served in the J-3/5 followed by an assignment as Secretary of the Joint Staff.

He reported to 1st Marine Division in 2000 as the G-3 Operations Officer and subsequently as the Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines where he participated in combat operations during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He reported to the Joint Staff J-8 in 2004 for duty as Branch Chief of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council Secretariat.

He assumed command of the School of Infantry West, Camp Pendleton, in 2006 and reported to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in 2008 for duty as the Chief of Staff.

Brigadier General Padilla is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Air Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College and Naval War College. He has a B.A. in Geography and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies.

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit with Combat V and two gold stars, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with gold star), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with gold star), and the Combat Action Ribbon (with gold star).