(L-R) Lt. Col. Matthew Palma, Sgt. Maj. Andrew Cece, and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Holt. Marine Corps Base Hawaii. May 2011.

Lt. Col. Matthew J. Palma, incoming commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, receives the battalion battle colors from Lt. Col. Jeffrey C. Holt, outgoing commanding officer, 3/3, during a change of command ceremony at Dewey Square on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 26, 2011. Holt, who assumed command of 3/3 in 2009, led the battalion on a deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010. He received a Bronze Star Medal with gold star in lieu of second award for his leadership during the deployment. Palma began his career as a platoon commander with 3/3 in 1996, and most recently served as a planner with G-5, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.