Marine Corps Base Hawaii -- Col. Timothy E Winand received command of 3rd Marine Regiment from Col. Nathan I. Nastase during a change of command ceremony at Dewey Square July 17, 2013.
“I served with Col. Nastase and Col. Winand, both have done phenomenal jobs through out their careers,” said Brig. Gen. Simcock, deputy commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and San Mateo, Calif. native. “Col. Nastase has done a lot of good for 3rd Marines. He started the unit deployment program and rotation in Australia, the list goes on and on.”
Nastase has commanded 3rd Marines at both the battalion and regimental level. He assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, in July 2007 and relinquished that command in June 2008, only to return three years later as the commander of 3rd Marines.
“Col. Winand and I have crossed paths many times throughout our careers,” Nastase said. “I couldn’t think of a better guy to take over 3rd Marines in my place.”
Nastase will be staying in Hawaii as the MarForPac G-5 assistant chief of staff. Winand served as battalion commander for 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, from Sept. 2007 to Feb. 2009 and went on to assume the executive officer position for Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division from April 2009 until late June 2010. After attending advanced schooling, Winand served as the division chief for the Policy and Strategic Plans Division in Washington D.C. before coming to Hawaii.
“The whole transition has been seamless and Col. Nastase has treated me and my family with great hospitality during the turn over,” Winand said. “I want to thank everyone for coming. I can tell this regiment family is strong and I can’t wait to meet everyone and continue the good relationships Col. Nastase has made.”
“I’m certain that under his leadership this regiment will continue to excel past all standards the Marine Corps has set,” Nastase said.