MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Sailors and family members attended a change of command ceremony during which Col. Scott A. Baldwin, out-going commanding officer of Marine Corps Engineer School, relinquished his command to Col. Daniel P. O’Hora, incoming commanding officer of Marine Corps Engineer School, at Courthouse Bay on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 9.
The engineer school responsibilities vary from coordinating with engineer advocates at Headquarters Marine Corps Installations and Logistics to counter improvised explosive device defeat training for over 50,000 Marines annually.
"It’s a bittersweet day for me," said Baldwin. "I’ve spent most of my entire career in the engineer community and for me to culminate it here at the Maine Corps Engineer School is unbelievable."
Baldwin replaced O’Hora in Tokyo for the U.S. Forces Japan some years ago before they had the opportunity to meet and was given some insight about O’Hora’s diligence and work ethic by the members who worked with him.
"O’Hora has a great reputation as a hard worker who pays attention to the details and loves being an engineer," said Baldwin. "He’s just a down-to-earth, good Marine officer who really wants to move the engineer community forward, which is the key to coming out here and heading the engineer school. "
O’Hora spoke to the attending crowd addressing his goals and plans as the incoming commanding officer for the school. He also expressed appreciation the commanders before him for the ground work they laid and the accomplishments they have left behind.
"My goals for the school are tied back to our mission which is to provide the best training for our Marines, remaining engaged in the engineer enterprise and updating the war fighting doctrine," said O’Hora, "by making sure it’s fresh and relevant so that it can be useful information to the operating forces."
O’Hora also stated he intends to review the current engineering field and find ways to implement new innovations for the operating force.
"The other piece to our command is in developing new capabilities and being involved in innovations," said O’Hora. "I’ll take a look at our capabilities and the gaps that exist either today or into the future and work with the resourcing enterprise to field new equipment for our Marines."
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