Colonel Mark C. Minella was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 2003, through the Platoon Leaders Course upon graduating from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. He completed The Basic School, Quantico, VA, January 2003, and the Logistics Operators Course, Camp Johnson, NC, May 2004.
Second Lieutenant Minella first reported to Combat Service Support Group 11, Camp Pendleton, CA, deploying in support of (ISO) Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) 2-2, August 2004 to March 2005, Camp Blue Diamond, Ramadi, as the Regimental S-3A and Unit Movement Control Center, Officer in Charge (OIC).
Upon re-deployment, First Lieutenant Minella was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 1 (CLB-1) as a Platoon Commander with Combat Logistics Company 119, deploying ISO OIF 4-6, August 2005 to March 2006, Al Taquddum, Iraq, conducting convoy operations throughout Al Anbar Provenance, Iraq.
Returning from Iraq, First Lieutenant Minella was assigned the Headquarters and Service Company Commander for both the Combat Logistics Regiment 1 and CLB-1, as well as the S-4 Logistics Officer for the Regiment and Battalion.
In January 2007, First Lieutenant Minella transferred from the Active Component to the Reserve Component and initiated his first mobilization with First Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Camp Pendleton, CA, G-4, as the Assistant Supply Officer and Assistant Material Readiness Officer.
In September 2007, First Lieutenant Minella then mobilized with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Reserve, New Orleans, LA, G-4 Facilities, and was promoted to Captain. Captain Minella accepted a third mobilization with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, North, in New Orleans, LA, as the G-3 Assistant Operations Officer, January 2008 to September 2010.
In October 2010, Captain Minella mobilized with 6th Motor Battalion, Bulk Fuel Platoon, Las Vegas, NV, as the General Support, Motor Transport Company Commander, 2nd Maintenance Battalion ISO Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 11.1, conducting convoy operations throughout Helmand Provenance, Afghanistan.
Upon returning from Afghanistan Captain Minella mobilized with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, Doral, Florida, G-4, as an Exercise Logistics Planner from December 2011 to June 2013 and then was selected to attend resident Intermediate Level Education at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), Fort Leavenworth, KS, July 2013 to June 2014 completing a master’s degree in military art and sciences.
Major Minella's sixth mobilization was with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa, Stuttgart, Germany, G-3, October 2014 to October 2017, as the European Current Operations Officer, and then with the G-35 as a European Future Operations Planner, Black Sea Region.
Major Minella mobilized again with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (MARCENT) as the Deputy Officer in Charge, MARCENT Coordination Element - Kuwait, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, December 2017 to November 2018. While deployed to Kuwait, Major Minella was selected to attend the Joint Forces Staff College, distance education program, Norfolk VA, and was then assigned to MARCENT, Tampa, FL, G-35 Future Operations until April 2019.
In May 2019, Major Minella mobilized for the eighth time with Combined Joint Task Force, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, as the J4 Joint Logistics Operations Center Chief, from May 2019 to January 2020.
In October 2019, Major Minella was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and selected for Reserve Battalion Command with Combat Logistics Battalion 453, Aurora, CO, serving as the Battalion Commander from March 2020 to April 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Minella then joined Combat Logistics Regiment 4, Kansas City, MO, as the Executive Officer from May 2022 to October 2024. During this time, Lieutenant Colonel Minella was selected to attend Top Level School, U.S. Army War College distance education program, Carlisle, PA, graduating in June 2025 with a master's degree in strategic studies.
After leaving CLR-4, Lieutenant Colonel Minella joined the I MEF Individual Mobilization Augmentee Detachment as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, December 2024 to May 2026, and was promoted to Colonel in March 2026.
In May 2026, Colonel Minella joined the 4th Combat Readiness Regiment, Marietta, GA, as the Deputy Commander/Senior Reserve Advisor.