Biography

 

Colonel Victor A. Pastor
Chief of Staff
U.S. Marine Corps Forces South

Colonel Pastor was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in 1996, following his graduation from George Mason University in Virginia.  Beginning his career in the Active Component as an Air Defense Control Officer in December 1997, he served with Marine Air Control Squadron-4 in Okinawa, Japan, fulfilling different assignments in the Squadron and at the Control Group before becoming a Tactical Air Operations Detachment Commander deploying to South Korea, Thailand and Australia. 

In July 2001, Capt Pastor was selected to join the Instructor Staff at The Basic School in Quantico, Va.  He served primarily as an Assistant Instructor and then as a staff platoon Commander.  After relinquishing command of Headquarters & Service Company, he subsequently transition to the Marine Corps Reserve.

In Sept 2004, Capt Pastor mobilized for four years in support of the mission assurance branch for Marine Corps Installation - National Capitol Region in Quantico, Va. Toward the end of his mobilization, Major Pastor served as a Regional Planner for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan through July 2008.  Post deployment, Major Pastor attended the Marine Air Ground Task Force Intelligence Officer course and graduated in November 2008, enabling his transition into Active Reserve Program in December 2008.

After an initial assignment at the promotions branch (MMPR) in January 2009, Major Pastor was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force in June 2009, serving as the intelligence current operations officer supporting I MEF FWD in Operation Enduring Freedom.  In August 2010, he was subsequently assigned deputy G-2, the focal point control officer, and special security officer for U. S. Marine Corps Forces Central (MARCENT) Command Forward, aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain.  During this tour he was selected to attend resident intermediate school prior to his transition back to I MEF in the summer of 2011. 

Upon graduating from resident Command and Staff in June 2012, LtCol Pastor was assigned to be the executive officer at Deployment Processing Command/Reserve Support Unit – East aboard Camp Lejeune, NC. In June 2015, LtCol Pastor transferred to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.  In this billet, he led the Reserve Integration section coordinating the planning and execution of multiple Reserve unit activations that extended beyond FY18.

In July 2018, LtCol Pastor became the Mobilization and Force Deployment Section head at the National Plans Branch (PLN), Plans, Policies, and Operations (PP&O), Headquarters Marine Corps. In this billet he began implementation of new mobilization policy and ran the last Service wide mobilization tabletop exercise. 

In June 2019, Colonel Pastor was selected to be the G-3/5 at Force Headquarters Group and subsequently transferred to be the G-3/5 with 4th Marine Division in July 2020 under Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans, La.  In June 2022, Colonel Pastor assumed the role as Chief of Staff for 4th Marine Division.  After a successful tour with the Division Colonel Pastor was selected to be the Chief of Staff for Marine Forces South in July 2023. 

Colonel Pastor’s personal awards include Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal.

 

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