Colonel Kendrick L. Gaines is a native of Thomasville, Alabama. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1996 and was commissioned in August 2002 through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Auburn University. Upon completion of The Basic School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, he reported to 3d Battalion, 11th Marines, where he served as a Forward Observer, Assistant Battalion Operations Officer, Platoon Commander, and Battery Executive Officer. He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In May 2006, Colonel Gaines reported to Marine Barracks Washington and served as the Assistant Battalion Operations Officer, Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Ceremonies Officer. In 2009, he attended Expeditionary Warfare School. Upon graduation, he reported to 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, serving as the Assistant Battalion Operations Officer, Battalion Artillery Liaison Officer, and Commanding Officer, Battery R. He deployed with Battery R to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Unit Deployment Program.
Following battery command, he served as Aide‑de‑Camp to the Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and in 2012 deployed as the Senior Watch Officer, Regional Command (Southwest), Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In 2013, he attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College, earning a Master of Military Studies. Colonel Gaines went on to command Recruiting Station Atlanta from 2014 to 2017.
From July 2017 to May 2019, Colonel Gaines served as the Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines. He then served as the District Operations Officer, 1st Marine Corps District. From February 2020 to May 2022, he served as Battalion Inspector‑Instructor, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines. He subsequently attended the Marine Corps War College, earning a Master of Strategic Studies, and then served at Headquarters Marine Corps as the Artillery Occupational Field Sponsor and an action officer in Future Operations Branch, Plans, Policies, and Operations.
From June 2024 to June 2026, Colonel Gaines served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Recruiting, Western Recruiting Region. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars and Combat “V”; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star; and the Combat Action Ribbon.