Juan Guadalupe Ayala
Major General, United States Marine Corps
Commander, Marine Corps Installations Command and ADC I&L (Facilities)
Major General Juan G. Ayala, formerly the Inspector General of the Marine Corps, assumed command of Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps, in Washington, D.C. on 2 July 2013. He also serves as Assistant Deputy Commandant (ADC), Installations and Logistics (Facilities) as well as Commanding General, Marine Corps National Capital Region. He also previously served as the Chief of Staff, United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida where he was promoted to his current rank.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Major General Ayala was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on 1 July 1979 after graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso. After completion of follow-on schools, he was assigned to Marine Corps Base, Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan. In August of 1983, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California where he served for 3 years with the 1st Marine Division and 3 years with the 1st Force Service Support Group.
In August of 1990, he was assigned to Joint Task Force 6 at Fort Bliss, Texas. While there, the Task Force completed over 300 counterdrug interdiction and support missions along the U.S. Southwest border.
In July of 1994, he was assigned to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina. While there he served in various assignments to include, Commanding Officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 and as the J4 Operations Officer supporting Operation Sea Signal (JTF-160) at Guantanamo Bay Cuba (Cuban/ Haitian refugee operations).
In July of 2001, he was assigned as Chief, Humanitarian Assistance Branch at Headquarters, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. While there, he coordinated Humanitarian Assistance Programs throughout 60 countries in Europe, Africa, the Baltics and the former Soviet Union.
In July of 2002, he was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-4 at 3d Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar, California. During that assignment, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF I). After returning from OIF I, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Marine Wing Support Group 37 and re-deployed with his Group in February of 2004 to OIF II.
In July of 2005, he was assigned as the Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton, California. From January of 2006 to January of 2007, he served as an embedded advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division in Habbaniyah, Iraq where he and his advisors participated in counterinsurgency and combat operations in the Al Anbar province.
He was promoted to Brigadier General in August 2008 and served as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from May 2008 to June 2010. During this tour, he and his Group deployed to Iraq participating in operations in the Al Anbar province.
Major General Ayala attended the University of Texas at El Paso receiving a BA in Business Administration. He holds an MBA from Campbell University and an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. Additionally he attended the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Amphibious Warfare School.
While in command, his units received the following recognition: Marine Corps Aviation Association's Jim Hatch Award for the 1998 Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) of the Year (MWSS 271), and the 2005 James McGuire Award for Exceptional Achievement (Security Battalion, Marine Wing Support Group 37).
Additionally, he received the 2007 Excellence in Military Service Award from The League of United Latin American Citizens.
Major General Ayala’s personal awards and decorations include Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with “V” Combat Distinguishing Device & Gold Star (2d Award), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.