GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- Following three years as Commanding Officer, First Marine Corps District, Col. Paul C. Allen turned his command over to Col. Tom L. Tyrrell in a formal change of command ceremony May 7 at the Veterans Memorial in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, N.Y.
Col. Tyrrell is a Chickasha, Okla. native and has nearly 25 years of service in the Marine Corps. Prior to coming to the First Marine Corps District, Col. Tyrrell served in a unique post with the United Nations as the Director for Strategic Planning, United Nations Interim Administration to Kosovo in Pristina, Kosovo. At the same time, he served as the Senior U.S. Military Observer in Kosovo.
Col. Tyrrell holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M at Kingsville, a Master of Science in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and a Master of Science in Strategic Resource Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington D.C.
His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, and three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals.
Col. Tyrrell is married to the former Deborah Watkins, and they have three children: Jonathan, Kenneth, and Laura.
Col. Allen will continue his Marine Corps career as the Operations Officer with the 3rd Marine Division based in Okinawa, Japan.