Scott William Caton was born on Yokota Air Force Base outside of Tokyo, Japan, and raised in eastern Maine. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 2001 and graduated from 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, in 2002. Upon graduation, he reported to 1st Battalion 25th Marine Regiment. As an Infantry Rifleman (0311), he deployed with his battalion in 2003 to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan, as part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP). He again deployed in 2006 to Fallujah, Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
In the summer of 2007, Major Caton graduated from Officer Candidate School. In 2008 he graduated from the University of Maine and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Following The Basic School (TBS), he reported to Marine Air Support Squadron 1 in January 2009. He later graduated from the Air Support Control Officer Course in June of that same year, becoming an Air Support Control Officer (7208).
At MASS-1, Major Caton deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in July 2009 and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in February 2011. At MASS-1, he earned his Tactical Air Director (TAD) and Helicopter Director (HD) and Senior Air Director (SAD) qualifications and Basic Instructor designation. He also served as a platoon commander in Air Support Company and Executive Officer of Communications and Electronics Company.
In June 2013, Major Caton was assigned as the DASC Division Head at Marine Air Command and Control Squadron - Experimental Operational Development Team (MACCS-X ODT). At MACCS-X ODT, he supported developing, testing, and evaluating the Common Aviation Command and Control Systems and led various future concept initiatives.
Major Caton transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves in July 2015, later joining Marine Air Support Squadron Six at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts, in January 2016. Major Caton served as the Air Support Section Commander and led two exercise detachments. He earned his Air Support Liaison Team Officer-in-Charge (OIC) qualification and his Senior Instructor and DASC OIC designations.
In 2019, Major Caton reported to Capabilities Development and Integration, Combat Development Directorate, as the Marine Air Command and Control System Transformation Task Force Special Project Officer. Major Caton wrote the Future Functional Concept for Marine Air Command and Control as part of his assignment.
From January 2020 to June 2021, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing assigned Major Caton as the Wing Air Command and Control Officer in the G-5. Subsequently, he served as the Operations Officer at Marine Air Support Squadron 2 until June 2022, when he was assigned as the Squadron Executive Officer.
Major Caton is a 2013 graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School and a 2019 distinguished graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (MCCSC) in Quantico, Virginia. Major Caton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Maine, a Master of Science degree in Project Management from George Washington University, a Master in Military Studies (MMS), and a graduate certificate in future concept development from the Marine Corps University. Other schools include Joint Firepower Course, Fire Support Coordination Course, Joint Air Operations Command and Control Course, and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile Tactical Commanders Course. Major Caton is a certified Project Management Professional.
Major Caton's decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Two Gold Stars, and Combat Action Ribbon. He is also the 2022 Robert F. Gibson Marine Corps Aviation Command and Control Officer of the Year winner.