1st Marine Aircraft Wing Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major Mario A. Marquez
Sergeant Major Mario A. Marquez enlisted in the Marine Corps in Lakewood, CA in 1989. Upon completing Recruit Training at MCRD San Diego and follow on schooling, Private First Class Marquez was assigned to Beach and Terminal Operations Co, 3rd Landing Support Battalion, 3rd FSSG, Okinawa, Japan where he participated in numerous exercises throughout the III MEF area of responsibility.
As a newly promoted Sergeant, he served as an escort for relief supplies during operations in support of the Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe/Osaka, Japan during January of 1995. Sergeant Marquez received orders to 1st Landing Support Battalion, 1st FSSG, Camp Pendleton, CA where he deployed to the Middle East, Central America and attended numerous Military schools.
Sergeant Marquez reported for Drill Instructor duty, MCRD San Diego, CA in January of 1998. Promoted to Staff Sergeant in March of 1998, he went on to complete 10 training cycles as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor for Company C and as a Series GySgt for Company D. He attended the Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival Course at Coronado, CA and was also selected as the 1st Recruit Training Battalion Drill Instructor of the Year for the year 2000.
In April of 2001, Gunnery Sergeant Marquez reported to the 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd FSSG, Camp Lejeune, NC and participated in CAX 9/10 2001. In October of 2001 he assumed duties as Operations Chief, MSSG-24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. From August of 2002 until May of 2003, the 24th MEU participated in Operations DYNAMIC RESPONSE, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I. Gunnery Sergeant Marquez was selected as the 2002 Marine Corps Enlisted Logistician of the Year for his service with the 24th MEU. Upon returning from the MEU, he was reassigned to 2nd TSB as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for BTO Company and subsequently frocked to the rank of First Sergeant in January of 2004.
First Sergeant Marquez reported to I&I Duty, 4th Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 4th MAW, Pasadena, CA during February of 2004. The battalion deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq as the Provisional Security Bn, 3rd MAW in support of OIF II. In September of 2005, First Sergeant Marquez assisted in deactivating 4th LAAD Battalion's Colors and in the transfer of all personnel. First Sergeant Marquez requested and received orders to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. During his tour with 1/9, he deployed ISO OIF 05-07 as part of Task Force 134, Camp Ashraf, Diyala Province, Iraq and he also assisted with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines' official re-activation in April of 2007.
Sergeant Major Marquez was frocked to his current rank in August of 2007 and he reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan where he deployed with the Firebirds in support of OIF 7-9.
In August of 2009, Sergeant Major Marquez was transferred to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 and participated in various exercises and in the Japanese Officer Exchange Program in Kobe and Osaka, Japan.
During August of 2010, Sergeant Major Marquez was transferred to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36, Marine Aircraft Group 36. In March of 2011 Sergeant Major Marquez deployed in support of Operation TOMODACHI as the MAG 36 Fwd SgtMaj, JTF-519 where the ACE conducted humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations after an earthquake and tsunami struck Northeastern Japan.
Sergeant Major Marquez served as the Marine Aircraft Group 36 Sergeant Major from June of 2011 until December of 2012 during which the MAG participated as the Aviation Combat Element during four multilateral exercises and supported III MEF across the PACOM AOR.
Sergeant Major Marquez reported to Marine Forces Central Command Forward, Naval Support Activity, Bahrain during February of 2013. During his tour he led multiple NCO development programs and theatre support cooperation events in 10 Middle East nations. Additionally, SgtMaj Marquez supported Marines afloat or deployed to CENTCOM and participated in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
Sergeant Major Marquez assumed his post as the Sergeant Major, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during June of 2015.
Sergeant Major Marquez' personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars, and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.