Sergeant Major Lance B. Fuentes was born on November 30, 1985, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He enlisted in the United States Marine
Corps on September 20, 2004, and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. Upon graduation,
he attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton and then the Communications School at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center Twentynine Palms, where he earned the Military Occupational Specialty of 0621, Field Radio Operator.
In April 2005, Private Fuentes reported to 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Headquarters and Service Battery aboard Camp
Pendleton, California. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-02 in 2006. Promoted to Sergeant in July 2007,
he served as the Communications Chief for the LAAD detachment aboard the USS Pearl Harbor with the 15th Marine Expeditionary
Unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-02. In 2009, he graduated as a Distinguished Graduate from Sergeants Course 04-09.
Later that year, Sergeant Fuentes reported to Drill Instructor School at MCRD San Diego and subsequently served with 1st Battalion,
Delta Company. Over eight training cycles, he held the billets of Drill Instructor, Experienced Drill Instructor, and Senior Drill
Instructor, earning multiple accolades, including the Gunnery Sergeant Nicols Award, the Dan Daly Award, and three Band of Brothers
Awards. He was later hand-selected to complete the rigorous Martial Arts Instructor Trainer Course and serve as the SNCOIC of the
Martial Arts Program at Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion.
In 2012, he reported to Combat Logistics Battalion 31 in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the Transmission Chief and Platoon
Sergeant. During this tour, he participated in major joint exercises, including Cobra Gold in Thailand and Talisman Sabre in Australia.
In 2013, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, where he served with G-3 Range
Operations.
In 2015 he reported to 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, and
served as the Battalion Transmission Chief. While assigned to Battery M, he deployed to Okinawa under the Unit Deployment Program
and participated in the Artillery Relocation Training Program 16-3 and Korean Marine Exchange Program 3-17. Shortly thereafter, he
was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and deployed with Task Force Spartan to Al Taqaddum, Iraq, in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
In October 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Fuentes reported to Headquarters Battery, 14th Marine Regiment in Fort Worth, Texas, where he
served as the Regimental Communications Chief on the Inspector-Instructor staff. In November 2018, he participated in Exercise
Dynamic Front 18, a large-scale joint and multinational artillery exercise conducted across Western Europe. In January 2021, he was
selected for promotion to First Sergeant and received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 in Yuma, Arizona.
In June 2021, First Sergeant Fuentes was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, Airfield Operations Company, where he
served as the Company First Sergeant and would deploy as the Marine Air Control Group Detachment Senior Enlisted Leader for the
Air Combat Element to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon return from deployment in June 2023, First Sergeant Fuentes would
serve as Headquarters and Service Company First Sergeant.
In April 2024, First Sergeant Fuentes reported to 3d Littoral Logistics Battalion and deployed to Northern Luzon, Philippines with
Littoral Logistics Company Alpha in support of Exercise Balikatan 2025. He was selected to the rank of Sergeant Major shortly after
returning.
On 30 July 2025, Sergeant Major Fuentes assumed his post as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion.