State of the Bases

State of the Bases

Hear directly from base leadership about the current status of each base and the outlook for the next year.

The Beaufort Regional Chamber is proud to present its annual State of the Bases breakfast. Keynote speakers for this event include leadership from the three military installations in the Tri-Command: Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and Naval Hospital Beaufort. This event is open to our membership, the business community, citizens and military community of the Beaufort region.

Featured Speakers

COLONEL TIMOTHY P. MILLER - Commanding Officer, MCAS Beaufort

Colonel Miller graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1994 through the Platoon Leaders Course. He was designated a Naval Aviator on 8 August 1997 and reported to HMT-204, Marine Corps Air Station New River for training in the CH-46E.

In January 1998, First Lieutenant Miller reported to HMM-266, where he served in a number of billets to include Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Operations Officer. During this period, he participated in two LF6F deployments with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Captain Miller was selected for the MV-22 transition and checked into VMMT-204 in March 2003. He qualified in the MV-22 and became a member of the squadron’s initial instructor cadre.

Major Miller transferred in March 2006 from VMMT-204 to VMM-263, the first operational MV-22 fleet squadron. He served as the Future Operations Officer during the initial transition, followed by Logistics Officer during the unit’s deployment to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 06.08. Major Miller detached and was assigned to VMM-261. He served as the Operations Officer as the squadron transitioned from an HMM to VMM. The squadron conducted the first deployment of the MV-22 to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 10.1 and during the deployment he moved to Executive Officer.

Upon return, Lieutenant Colonel Miller was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26 to work as the Personnel Support Detachment 26 Commanding Officer. He remained there until May 2011 and was directed to VMM-162 as the Executive Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Miller deployed with the unit to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 11.2. He returned early to execute orders to Marine Aircraft Group 16. On 10 May 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Miller assumed command of The Lucky Red Lions and the squadron was redesignated from a helicopter to tiltrotor squadron, VMM-363.

In June 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Miller attended the Israel National Defense College and earned a master’s degree in social sciences from Haifa University. Following school, he served at U.S. Pacific Command as the Warfighting Exercises Branch Chief.

On 7 July 2017, Colonel Miller assumed his current duty serving as, the Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
His personal decorations include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 9, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star.

COLONEL CESAR RODRIGUEZ - Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Operations and Training, MCRD Parris Island

Colonel Rodriguez is a native of Somerville, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and was commissioned in the Marine Corps through the Naval ROTC program in May, 1995.

Second Lieutenant Rodriguez completed The Basic School (TBS) and the Infantry Officer’s Course in 1996 and was assigned to 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division. While assigned to 2d LAR Battalion, he served as a Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer and deployed with Battalion Landing Team 2/2, 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit. In 1999, First Lieutenant Rodriguez transferred to 3d Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. He served as a Series Commander, Company Executive Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, Company Commander and worked in the G-3. Following completion of the Armored Captains Career Course in Fort Knox, Kentucky, Captain Rodriguez took command of Company B, 3d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion where he deployed with his company to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and to Okinawa, Japan as the LAR Company Commander, Combat Assault Battalion, 3d Marine Division. Upon his return from Okinawa, Captain Rodriguez was assigned as the Marine Officer Instructor, NROTC Unit, Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Following his tour in New Orleans Major Rodriguez completed Command and Staff College and was assigned as the Executive Officer of 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division where he deployed to Afghanistan as the CENTCOM LNO to CJTF-101 and upon his return served as the commander of 2d LAR Battalion (Rear).

In 2010, Major Rodriguez was assigned to the G-3, II MEF. In 2011, Major Rodriguez was frocked and assumed the duties as the Inspector-Instructor, 2d Battalion, 25th Marines in Garden City, New York. After his change of command, Lieutenant Colonel Rodriguez moved to Seoul, Korea and assumed the duties of the Deputy Chief of Combined Plans Division, UCJ-5, U. S. Forces Korea Combined Forces Command. From Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Rodriguez was selected to attend the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. He graduated February, 2016 and reported for duty with Plans, Policy, and Operations Department, HQMC as the Section Head, Future Operations Group / Global Force Management. Following his assignment at Headquarters Marine Corps in August 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Rodriguez was assigned as a Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council in Washington, D. C. In July 2018, Colonel Rodriguez assumed his current duties as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Operations and Training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.

Colonel Rodriguez holds a Master of Arts in Policy Economics from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star (Combat Distinguishing Device), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (third award), and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Colonel Rodriguez is married to the former Shelley Hubbs of Somerville. Texas. They have two children. Isabel (23) is married and attends Texas A&M – Texarkana, in Texarkana, Texas. Isaac (19) attends Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan where he plays baseball.

CAPTAIN ROBERT D. JACKSON - Commanding Officer, Naval Support Facility Beaufort & Naval Hospital Beaufort

Capt. Robert Jackson is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Physiology from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Capt. Jackson was commissioned an Ensign via the Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1985, and reported to VT-10 in Pensacola, Florida for Naval Flight Officer (NFO) training. Upon completing Basic Flight training he reported to Mather AFB for Advanced Navigation training and received his wings as an NFO in June 1987. After completing Fleet Replacement Squadron training with VP-31 at Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California, he reported to VP-9 also located onboard Moffett Field, achieving designation as Patrol Plane Navigator/Communicator, Tactical Coordinator, Mission Commander, Squadron Duty Officer and Command Duty Officer. In 1988 Jackson deployed to Diego Garcia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Operation “Earnest Will”, and in 1990 to Misawa, Japan. Capt. Jackson’s next duty station was the United States Naval Academy where he served as an Admissions Officer. Capt. Jackson was subsequently selected by the Commandant of Midshipmen to serve as the 17th Company; responsible for the academic, physical and moral development of over 300 Midshipmen during his tenure.

Capt. Jackson was selected to attend medical school, graduating in 1998. He completed an internship in General Surgery at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He subsequently completed a residency in Anesthesiology at the National Capital Consortium at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Upon graduation in 2002 Jackson was assigned as a staff anesthesiologist at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. During this tour he served as Head, Department of Anesthesia, Process Improvement Physician Advisor and Chairman, Executive Committee of the Medical Staff. Follow on assignment was to Naval Hospital Jacksonville Florida in 2005. Capt. Jackson held numerous leadership positions during his tour of duty at Naval Hospital Jacksonville to include Special Assistant to the Commanding Officer for Process Transformation, Department Head of Anesthesia, Chairman, Executive Committee of the Medical Staff, Credentials Committee Member, and Physician Champion for the TeamSTEPPS Patient Safety Program. Following this assignment, Capt. Jackson served as the Executive Officer, U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain.

Capt. Jackson assumed command of Naval Support Facility Beaufort and Naval Hospital Beaufort January 11, 2018.

Capt. Jackson’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and numerous unit commendations.

CHARLIE FARRELL - Executive Coordinator, South Carolina Military Base Task Force

Charlie Farrell is a banking and finance graduate of the University of South Carolina where he played basketball for Coach Frank McGuire. He flew over 3,000 hours as a fighter pilot (F-4, A-4, A-7, F-16) with the Marine Corps and Air National Guard. He owned two commercial printing companies before he started professional development training, specializing in programs to develop skills in leadership, teamwork, and personal productivity. His repeat clients include General Electric, 3M, Mayo Clinic, Federal Reserve Bank, Ocean Spray Cranberry, and Michelin. Charlie is a trained mediator and attended the Harvard Law School Negotiations Workshop taught by Roger Fisher, author of Getting to Yes. He travels extensively, having visited all 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Charlie has authored numerous articles and two books. Courage To Lead, in its sixth printing, is used by many organizations and universities in their leadership training. Keep Your Wallet Open and Your Mouth Shut is a humorous look at how fathers can survive the wedding of a daughter.

Having been an adjunct faculty member since 1992, Charlie served 3 years as Director of Executive Education in the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. In April 2012 he was appointed Director of the South Carolina Aerospace Task Force under the Department of Commerce. He was appointed Executive Coordinator for the South Carolina Military Base Task Force in July 2013. In 2015 Charlie was inducted into the Richland School District One Hall of Fame.

Photo Gallery

Check out a few photos from our last State of the Bases event. See the full gallery on Facebook ›

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