PTA Change of Command

The U.S. Army announces that after completing two years leading U.S. Army Garrison-Pōhakuloa Training Area, Lt. Col. Christopher Marquez relinquished command to Lt. Col. Loreto V. Borce Jr. in a ceremony on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Col. Stephen Dawson (right), commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai‘i, passes the garrison colors to Lt. Col. Loreto “JR” Borce Jr. during a change of command ceremony at Pōhakuloa Training Area, May 24. Courtesy photo

“It’s been an honor to be part of this great team of professionals who work hard every day at PTA to ensure our military forces are able to train safely and effectively,” Marquez said.

Since 2004, Marquez has commanded the garrison, which consists of more than 136,000 acres and provides training ranges, an airfield and other facilities for air and ground maneuver training for Army, Marine Corps, National Guard, Air Force and Navy personnel.

The garrison is also responsible for managing 26 threatened and endangered plant and animal species, and approximately 1,200 archaeological sites located on its training lands.

Col. Stephen Dawson, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i, presided over the ceremony.

“Lt. Col. Marquez has built strong partnerships with our local government, community and education leaders on Hawai‘i island,” Dawson said. “Under his leadership, PTA has strengthened support for local schools and community efforts.”

Lt. Col. Loreto “JR” Borce Jr. was welcomed as the newest commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Pōhakuloa during a change of command ceremony at Pōhakuloa Training Area, May 24. Borce is originally from Honolulu. (From left to right) Here he is joined with his wife, Kekai, and their children: newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Ashlynn, Lawrence, Mariah and Jeremiah. Borce comes to Hawai‘i Island from Schofield Barracks, O‘ahu, where he served with the 25th Infantry Division. Courtesy photo

Borce is originally from Honolulu, Hawai‘i and received his officer commission from the University of Hawai‘i Army ROTC. He takes command of the garrison after a long career of field artillery command and staff positions and serving as an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He’s had several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.