Major General Robert F. Castellvi served more than 38 years as a Marine infantry officer, from his commissioning in 1984 to his retirement in 2022. When this profile first appeared, he was a brigadier general. He later earned a second star and went on to command the 1st Marine Division, one of the Corps’ largest and most storied ground units. His career included combat and contingency operations across several decades, senior installation and expeditionary commands, and, near its end, a hard public accounting after a deadly training accident. For Marine families, his story shows both the scope of responsibility senior leaders carry and how seriously the Corps treats the safety of every Marine.
Quick Facts
- Final rank: Major General
- Commissioned: May 1984, through the NROTC program at the University of Illinois
- Specialty: Infantry officer
- Years of service: More than 38 years (retired May 2022)
- Education: University of Illinois; master’s degrees from Marine Corps University, National Defense University, and Capitol College
- Key commands: Marine Corps Installations East; 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade; 1st Marine Division
Early Life and Commissioning
Castellvi was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois, where he joined the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. The NROTC program lets college students train for a commission while earning a degree, and it is one of the main paths into the Marine officer corps. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1984.
Early Career in the Operating Forces
As an infantry officer, Castellvi served in the Fleet Marine Force in all three Marine Expeditionary Forces, the large warfighting organizations based on the East Coast, the West Coast, and in Japan. Serving in all three gave him a broad view of how Marines train and deploy around the world.
Early in his career he deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Earnest Will, the mission to protect shipping in the region. He went on to take part in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.
In 1993 he received the Leftwich Trophy, an award given each year to an outstanding Marine ground combat leader at the rank of captain. The trophy honors Lieutenant Colonel William G. Leftwich Jr., who was killed in Vietnam, and recognizes officers who show exceptional leadership of Marines.
Professional Military Education
Castellvi invested heavily in his education throughout his career. He graduated from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting, a demanding second-year program that trains officers as operational planners. He also completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. Along the way he earned master’s degrees from Marine Corps University, National Defense University, and Capitol College.
General Officer Service
As a brigadier general, Castellvi commanded Marine Corps Installations East, the command responsible for the bases and air stations that support Marines in the eastern United States, including Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Installation commands manage the training areas, housing, schools, and services that Marine families rely on every day.
He then led the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and served as deputy commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force. He also served in Operation Inherent Resolve, the campaign against the Islamic State, as a deputy commanding general for operations. In March 2017 he was nominated for promotion to major general, and the Senate confirmed the promotion that May.
From 2018 to 2020 he commanded the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. The division is the Marine Corps’ oldest and largest active-duty division, and its commanding general is responsible for the training and readiness of thousands of Marines and sailors.
Inspector General and the 2020 AAV Accident
In 2020 Castellvi became Inspector General of the Marine Corps. That July, an amphibious assault vehicle sank during a training exercise off the coast of Southern California, killing eight Marines and one sailor. The Marines involved belonged to units whose training and readiness fell under the 1st Marine Division during Castellvi’s command.
Investigations found failures in how the units had been trained and evaluated. In 2021 the Marine Corps suspended Castellvi and then removed him as Inspector General. His final assignment was Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps, and he retired from active duty in May 2022.
Awards
His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V,” and the Combat Action Ribbon, in addition to the Leftwich Trophy he earned as a captain.
Why Robert F. Castellvi’s Career Matters to Marine Families
Castellvi’s career shows how an NROTC graduate can rise from rifle platoon commander to leading an entire Marine division. It also shows that rank does not shield anyone from accountability. When nine service members were lost in a training accident, the Corps examined the full chain of command, including its general officers. For parents, that matters. It signals that the Marine Corps expects leaders at every level to own the safety and preparation of the young Marines entrusted to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Robert F. Castellvi’s final rank?
He retired as a major general, a two-star rank. He was a brigadier general when first profiled here and was promoted to major general in 2017.
How did he become a Marine officer?
He earned his commission in May 1984 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program at the University of Illinois.
What is the Leftwich Trophy?
It is an annual award recognizing an outstanding Marine captain for leadership in a ground combat unit. Castellvi received it in 1993.
Why was he removed as Inspector General?
Investigations into the July 2020 amphibious assault vehicle sinking found training and evaluation failures in units that had been under his command at the 1st Marine Division. The Marine Corps removed him from the Inspector General post in 2021.