Major Deal is a native of Willoughby, Ohio. In May 2013, he graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and commissioned in the Marine Corps. He attended The Basic School in Stafford, Virginia in April 2014. In January 2015, he reported Infantry Officer Course and upon graduating, he earned the MOS 0302 – Infantry Officer.
In April 2015, he reported to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he was assigned as 2d Platoon Commander for Bravo Company. In May of 2015, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. In June 2016, he deployed with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit and returned from deployment in December 2016.
In January 2017, he executed temporary assigned duty orders to Task Force Southwest (TFSW) Rotation 1. He was assigned as a maneuver advisor to the Afghan National Army 215th Corps Regional Military Training Center for the Trainer Advisor Team. He deployed with TFSW to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in April 2017 until February 2018. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in November 2017, while deployed. In March 2018, he was temporarily assigned to assist 2d Marine Division G-3 with the final exercise for TFSW Rotation 3. He was then temporarily assigned as an assistant operations officer in the 6th Marine Regiment operations office.
In April 2018, he reported to Expeditionary Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). He was assigned as the Ropes and Recovery Branch Officer-in-Charge. In this billet, he certified Marines and Sailors as Assault Climbers, Helicopter Ropes Suspension Techniques (HRST) Masters, and Fast Rope Masters for II MEF. During this assignment he attended and graduated Assault Climbers Course, HRST Masters Course, Fast Rope Masters Course, National Outdoor Leaders Wilderness First Responder Course, Trener International Urban Climbing Course, and Peak Rescue Institute Specialist Rescue Course. In June 2020, he completed Expeditionary Warfare School Blended Seminar Program, graduating with distinction.
In December 2020, he executed orders to 3d Battalion, 2d Marines where was assigned as the Lima Company Commander. He attended the pilot course of the Division Leader’s Assessment Program in March 2021. From February to September 2022, he deployed on Unit Deployment Program 22.1 to Okinawa, Japan. During deployment, his company participated in SHINKA 22.1 and SHINKA 22.2, which were two one-week long force on force exercises with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. In January 2023, Lima Company attached to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB) for deployment on Marine Rotational Force-Europe (MRF-E) 23.1. From January to April 2023, he deployed on Marine MRF-E 23.1 to Setermoen, Norway in order to execute North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercise Joint Viking 23 as a maneuver company for 2d CEB. He was promoted to Major in April 2023.
In June 2023, Major Deal reported to Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia to attend Command and Staff College. He graduated as a distinguished graduate with a masters in Military Studies in June 2024.
In July 2024, Major Deal executed orders to Kilo Company, 3d Battalion, 25th Marines in the billet of Inspector-Instructor. This is his current assignment.
Major Deal’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, and the Combat Action Ribbon.