June 12, 2013 -- Lieutenant Colonel Eric Garcia, the commanding officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, will relinquish command to Lt. Col. Jason Holden during a change of command ceremony here Friday, June 14, at 10:00 a.m.

Lt. Col. Holden will assume the responsibilities of commanding officer of VMM-163 after serving as the Operations Officer for Marine Aircraft Group-16.

Lt. Col. Garcia took command of the squadron in December 2011 and transitioned it from the CH-46 Sea Knight to a fully operational MV-22 Osprey squadron in March 2013. He will attend the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Interested media must RSVP with the Miramar Public Affairs Office at miramarmedia@usmc.mil or (858) 864-3406 by 3 p.m. Thursday, June 13.

We will rendezvous with all media organizations at 9:20 a.m. at the parking lot next to the East Gate. (Take the Miramar Way exit from I-15 and make a right into the parking lot on the right - the gate guard will direct you there.)

-USMC-