U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Africa received a new commander January 18, 2011 following a change of command ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Lieutenant General John M. Paxton Jr. took command from Brigadier General Paul W. Brier, who became the deputy commander.

Commander, U.S. Marine Force Africa, is the U.S. Marine Corps component command to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). He advises AFRICOM on the proper employment and support of U.S. Marine Corps forces: conducts employment/redeployment planning and execution of assigned/attached forces and accomplishes assigned operational missions throughout Africa.

Lieutenant General Paxton was commissioned into the Marine Corps in 1974. A career infantryman, he has commanded Marines at every level, from platoon through division, and has served and commanded in all three active Marine Divisions. Paxton has also served as an operations, plans and training officer within Fleet Marine Force units at the battalion, regiment, division and Marine Expeditionary Force levels.

In addition to his service as chief of staff for Multi-National Force Iraq in Baghdad, Paxton has had operational tours supporting stability efforts in the Bosnian conflict with Landing Force Sixth Fleet and in Mogadishu, Somalia, as United Nations Quick Reaction Force, both while commanding Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.