Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., Assistant Commandant of the

Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, shakes hands with Maj. Rob Thomas, officer-in-charge of the forward command element, during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is an exercise designed to facilitate multiservice engagements, set conditions for bilateral and multilateral training opportunities, and support rapid response to potential theater crises and contingency operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Paxton is visiting several sites, bases and stations as he travels throughout the region. Paxton took over as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on December 15, 2012 and serves as the deputy, and second highest-ranking officer, to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Realeased)