Robert F. Castellvi

Robert F. Castellvi
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1984-2022
RankMajor general
UnitTask Force Leatherneck
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
CommandsInspector General of the Marine Corps
1st Marine Division
2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Marine Corps Installations East
Battles / warsOperation Earnest Will
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards1993 recipient of the Leftwich Trophy for leadership
Combat Action Ribbon
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one Gold Star
Bronze Star Medal
Alma materUniversity of Illinois
Capitol College (MS)
National Defense University (MS)
Marine Corps University (MS)
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
School of Advanced Warfighting
Marine Command and General Staff College

Robert F. Castellvi is a retired United States Marine Corps major general who most recently served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps from 9 October 2020 to 1 May 2021.[1] As Inspector General, Castellvi oversaw matters of institutional integrity, discipline and combat readiness in the Corps, maintaining credibility through impartial and independent inspections, assessments, inquiries, investigations, teaching, and training. He is also an ex-officio Member at the North Carolina Military Affairs Full Commission in Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina.[2]

As of 1 May 2021, Castellvi was suspended from serving as the Inspector General of the Marine Corps pending the outcome of an investigation into an AAV mishap while he was commanding general of the 1st Marine Division.[3]

Military career

Castellvi was commissioned into the Marine Corps via the NROTC program in February 1984.[4]

Castellvi participated in Operation Earnest Will in the Persian Gulf with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 1985, Operation Inherent Resolve as the deputy commanding general for operations, Operation RESTORE HOPE, and Operation Desert Storm.[1]

On 22 March 2017, then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis nominated Robert F. Castellvi to the rank of Major General while he was deputy commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (dual-hatted as 2 MEB commander). He was confirmed by the Senate on 1 May 2017.[5] He was the commander of Marine Corps Installations East from 12 July 2013 to 31 July 2015, and was succeeded by Major General Thomas D. Weidley.[6] He was also a director of the Manpower Management Division.[7]

He was formerly the commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade[1] and then the 1st Marine Division, succeeding Eric M. Smith. He served as commanding general of the 1st Marines from 6 July 2018 to 22 September 2020, passing the baton to Major General Roger B. Turner Jr.[8][9] While serving as the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, Castellvi relieved Lt. Col. Francisco Zavala, the commanding officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Castellvi relieved Zavala on 7 May 2019 for "loss of trust and confidence" in the commander's ability to lead the battalion.[10]

Suspension

On July 30, 2020, an assault amphibious vehicle (AAV) mishap off the coast of Southern California on July 30, 2020, resulted in the drowning deaths of 8 Marines and a Navy corpsman in a "preventable" accident. The Command Investigation by I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) into the AAV mishap was completed in March 2021; it "revealed a confluence of human and mechanical failures caused the sinking of the mishap AAV, and contributed to a delayed rescue effort."[11]

Castellvi was suspended from all current duties as the Marine Corps inspector general on 1 May 2021 on orders from David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, after the investigation determined that Castellvi "bears some responsibiity" for the lack of training that lead to the drownings.[12] He was the commanding general of the 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton at the time of the mishap.[12][3]

In June 2021, Marine spokespersons reported that Castellvi had been permanently relieved of duty as Inspector General and counselled by the Commandant, rendering him likely ineligible for promotion to higher rank.[13][14]

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15 MEU) investigation was ongoing at the time of Castellvi's suspension. In October 2021, the results of investigation were revealed: It confirmed training and maintenance issues, as well as determining responsibility for the failure. As a result, in addition to Castellvi losing his position as inspector general, all Marines below him in the chain of command received some level of administrative discipline.[12][15] In 2022, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro issued formal administrative censure to five senior Marine Corps and Navy officers for their roles in the AAV incident. The three investigations into the incident "revealed a 'chain of failure' at nearly every level of command."[16]

Final post and retirement

After being relieved from his position as inspector general in June 2021, Castellvi became the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations (ADC PP&O).

He retired from active duty in May 2022 after over 38 years of active duty.

Education

Major General Castellvi is a graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned his Marine Corps commission through the NROTC program.[17] He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advance Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, The School of Advanced Warfighting, as well as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Castellvi also earned Master's Degrees from the Marine Corps University, the National Defense University, and Capitol College.[18]

Awards and decorations

Major General Robert F. Castellvi is the recipient of the following awards:[19]

Parachutist Badge
Rifle Expert Badge (7th award)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Major General Robert F. Castellvi, Inspector General of the Marine Corps". Headquarters Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ "NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY AFFAIRS FULL COMMISSION MEETING" (PDF). U.S. Government. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b Mallory Shellbourne (3 May 2021). "UPDATED: Marine Corps Suspends General Over Deadly AAV Accident, Navy Launches Own Investigation". USNI News. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  4. ^ "PN715 — Marine Corps, 98th Congress (1983-1984)". U.S. Congress. 29 February 1984. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. ^ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  6. ^ Mike McHugh (7 August 2017). "Brig.Gen. Julian D. Alford to lead MCIEAST". JD news. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  7. ^ "FY20 U.S. MARINE CORPS OFFICER PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS". U.S. Marine Corps. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  8. ^ Preston McDonald (12 June 2015). "2nd MEB bids farewell to Simcock, welcomes Castellvi". Dvidshub. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Marine Corps Biography: Brigadier General". Semper fi parents. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  10. ^ Gina Harkins (8 May 2019). "Marine Recon Commanding Officer Relieved, 4th Leader Ousted in 2 Weeks". Military.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  11. ^ Salinas, Maj. Melanie (25 March 2021). "Marine Corps releases command investigation into the assault amphibious vehicle mishap off the coast of Southern California on July 30, 2020" (Press release). United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Lamothe, Dan (4 May 2021). "Marine Corps suspends general cited in fatal amphibious-vehicle disaster at sea". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  13. ^ Fuentes, Gidget (9 June 2021). "Marine Corps IG Removed, 'Counseled' for Failures as 1st MARDIV CO Following Fatal AAV Sinking Investigation". USNI News.
  14. ^ "Marine Corps commandant forces out general cited in fatal AAV accident". The Washington Post. 9 June 2021.
  15. ^ Athey, Philip (5 October 2021). "New investigation reveals more details on fatal Marine AAV accident". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  16. ^ Fuentes, Gidget (13 June 2022). "SECNAV Censures Retired Marine General, Navy Officers Over 2020 Fatal AAV Sinking". USNI News. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Major General Robert F. Castellvi". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Major General Robert F. Castellvi". Marine Corps. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Marine Corps Brigadier General Biographies". Semperfiparents. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
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