El Toro : Marine Station to Get New Base Commander

Brig. Gen. Donald E. P. Miller will take over command of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro on June 30, succeeding Brig. Gen. William A. Bloomer, base commander since July, 1984, a Marine spokeswoman announced Friday.

Bloomer, 53, will retire at the end of June, said Staff Sgt. Vicki Conkel. As commander of Marine Corps Air Bases, Western Area, he was also in charge of stations at Tustin, Camp Pendleton and Yuma, Ariz. He will retire from that position also.

Bloomer, a native of Kansas, flew 330 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1955 and completed naval flight training in 1958. Conkel said that the retiring commander plans to enter business upon leaving the armed services.

Miller has had several tours of duty at El Toro, most recently as chief of staff, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing during 1983 and 1984. He is currently director of public affairs at U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington. A change-of-command ceremony is scheduled for June 30 at the El Toro base.