Lieutenant General Rex C. McMillian assumed the duties of Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and Marine Forces Northern Command on 12 September 2015. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, he graduated from the University of Southern California and was commissioned in 1980 via the Platoon Leaders Class program.
A Naval aviator by trade, Lieutenant General McMillian completed flight school in 1982 and has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours during his career in numerous platforms.
As a Lieutenant, he trained with VT-21 in Kingsville, Texas and remained as a flight instructor flying the TA-4J. In 1983, he reported to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 for transition training in the F-4S. In 1986, Captain McMillian transitioned to the F-18 at Strike Fighter Squadron 106, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, and flew the Hornet with VMFA-531 in El Toro, California.
In April 1989, Captain McMillian transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve and joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134. As a Major, he served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 in Miramar, California.
Lieutenant Colonel McMillian served as the Assistant Air Operations Officer, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Augmentation Command Element / I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, California. In January 2000, he assumed command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 in Miramar, California and relinquished command in January 2002.
While a Colonel, in 2003 he was mobilized and reported to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing as the Chief of Staff for both overseas and stateside duties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In June 2005, he was demobilized and transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 46 in order to serve as the Deputy Commander.
Upon selection to Brigadier General, he served as Deputy Commanding General of Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. From 2009 to 2010, Brigadier General McMillian assumed the duties as the Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, California.
Major General McMillian served as the Commanding General, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing from July 2010 to August 2012. Following command, he served as the Director, Reserve Affairs Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps until May 2013. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Senior Advisor to the Commander for Reserve Affairs, assigned to North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. His secondary responsibility was a Threat Assessor for NORAD and NORTHCOM.
Prior to his return to active military service, Lieutenant General McMillian was a Captain for Delta Air Lines in his civilian employment. He has been a career airline pilot since 1989.