SgtMaj Gray was born on 1 May 1979. He enlisted in the Marine Corps from Denver Colorado and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California in April of 1999. Upon completion of Recruit Training, he attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California. He then received orders to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Post schooling, he was assigned the MOS of (0811) Field Artillery Cannoneer.
In November of 1999, Private First Class Gray reported to 2nd Battalion (Bn), 11th Marines (Mar), battery G, located at Camp Pendleton, California. He deployed twice in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Okinawa, Japan. Private First Class Gray was promoted through the rank of Sergeant. In November of 2002, Sergeant Gray executed orders to Marine Corps Security Forces (MCSF) Bn, Chesapeake, Virginia for follow on training. Upon graduation, Sergeant Gray was assigned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
In November of 2005, Sergeant Gray completed his MCSF tour and received orders to 5th Bn, 10th Mar, battery S, located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He deployed in support of Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/8, 24th MEUSOC, in 2006. During this deployment Sergeant Gray participated in the Non-combatant Evacuation Operation in Beirut, Lebanon. He redeployed to Fallujah, Iraq, as a convoy security and cannon battery detachment in support of Regimental Combat Team 6. Sergeant Gray was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant Gray transitioned to II MEF HQ Group as a foreign security forces advisor. He served a one-year tour at Combat Observation Post H3, located in Anbar Province, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Gray was then selected to advise an Afghan Kandak based in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He served as fire and effects SNCO and Senior Enlisted Advisor. Staff Sergeant Gray returned to 5th Bn, 10th Mar, and received orders to recruiting school in San Diego, California.
In the October of 2011, Staff Sergeant Gray graduated recruiting school and reported to RS Denver, RSS Colorado Springs North to serve as a canvassing recruiter. After the nine-month evaluation process, Staff Sergeant Gray assumed the billet of SNCOIC. He earned honors of RSS and SNCOIC of the year for RS Denver in 2014. Staff Sergeant Gray received orders to 1st Bn, 11th Mar, located at Camp Pendleton, California. Staff Sergeant Gray was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant during this tour.
Gunnery Sergeant Gray arrived to 1st Bn, 11th Mar in October of 2014. He deployed with battery B in support of BLT 2/1, on the 13th MEU in 2016. Returning from the MEU, Gunnery Sergeant Gray was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant and received orders to Inspector-Instructor (I-I) duty with Company C, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division, at Lynchburg, Virginia.
In March of 2017, I-I duty proved to be a career broadening assignment. He played a critical part in activating and deploying an engineer platoon on a truncated timeline in support of Unit Deployment Program 19.1. At the conclusion of his I-I tour, First Sergeant Gray received favorable endorsement to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, class 71. In June 2020, First Sergeant Gray executed orders to attend the ten-month Army Sergeants Major Academy located at Fort Bliss, Texas. In July of 2021 First Sergeant Gray graduated the course and transitioned to his overseas posting at Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Okinawa, Japan. First Sergeant Gray was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major, and has been assigned as the Squadron Sergeant Major at Marine Air Control Squadron-4, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, as of April 2022.
Sergeant Major Gray's civilian education includes an Associates of Arts in Leadership Communication, a Bachelor’s of Science in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s of Science in Strategic Leadership with a focus on crisis management. Sergeant Major Gray’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (3rd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (6th award) and outstanding volunteer service medal. Sergeant Major Gray is a recipient of special honors from the Field Artillery community for his steadfast contributions, earning an induction into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and awarded the corresponding medal.
Sergeant Major Gray is married to his wife Iris and they have three boys, Jimmy, Andy and Kenny.