Female battalion commander makes history
Lt. Col. Lauren Edwards gives a speech during the 8th Engineer Support Battalion change of command ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 30. “I’m extraordinarily proud to take command of 8th ESB today, and I hope that all Marines and Sailors in this battalion recognize that if they work hard and look out for each other they can accomplish whatever they the set their minds to,” said Edwards. Edwards’ new responsibility, as the first female commander of an ESB, will be to provide engineer support to II Marine Expeditionary Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Young/ released)
Marine Corps Lt. Col. Lauren Edwards made history when she took command of the service’s 8th Engineer Support Battalion at Camp Lejeune, Nov. 30.
“My charge now is to serve as a positive example of leadership and professionalism to men and women alike,” Edwards said during the change of command ceremony. “I’m extraordinarily proud to take command of 8th ESB today, and I hope that all Marines and sailors in this battalion recognize that if they work hard and look out for each other they can accomplish whatever they set their minds to.”
Edwards’ new responsibility, as the first female commander of an ESB, will be to provide engineer support to II Marine Expeditionary Force. “Engineer support battalions are very much the life support of an MEF,” she said. “We are a large unit that can be tasked to perform a myriad of engineering tasks across the battlefield.”