Lieutenant Colonel Robert Michael Murray is a native of Fort Polk, Louisiana. He enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard in July 2003, and was a Paratrooper with Hotel Company, 1/121st Long Range Surveillance Company from July 2003 to May 2007. LtCol Murray decided to commission in the USMC and received permission to attend Marine Corps OCS. LtCol Murray graduated from North Georgia College and State University in May of 2007 with Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in Spanish.
Following graduation from The Basic School in December 2008, subsequently Infantry Officer Course in April 2008, LtCol Murray reported to 3d Battalion, 9th Marines in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for duty as a Platoon Commander. In 2009, LtCol Murray deployed in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Weapons Platoon Commander, Company L, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines. Upon return from deployment, LtCol Murray assumed the 81mm Platoon Commander Billet, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines. From November 2010 to July 2011, LtCol Murray deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Marjah and the Sistani Peninsula, Helmand Province.
Upon return from deployment, LtCol Murray reported for Instructor Duty at The Basic School. During his tour he was a Patrolling Package Primary Instructor, a Staff Platoon Commander with Alpha Company 1-13, an Executive Officer for Echo Company 5-13, and the Executive Officer for Warrant Officer Basic Course 2014. Following duty at TBS, LtCol Murray attended Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS).
Upon EWS graduation in May 2015, LtCol Murray reported for duty as the Operations Liaison Officer for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force, Crisis-Response Africa 15.2 (SPMAGTF 15.2) to Marine Forces Europe and Africa. Following this deployment, LtCol Murray reported for duty as a Company Commander, Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 6th Marines. As the Weapons Company Commander, during the 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit Deployment and he served as the Security Force Commander ashore in Syria. In December of 2018, LtCol Murray was assigned as the Operations Officer for 3d Battalion, 6th Marines. In 2019, he deployed with the Forward Deployed Battalion-East for duty in the INDOPACOM area of operations.
Following the deployment, LtCol Murray took command of Recruiting Station Twin Cities from 2019 to 2022. Following his recruiting tour, LtCol Murray attended the School of Advanced Warfighting where he earned a Masters in Operational Studies. From May 2023 to May 2025, LtCol Murray served as an Operational Plans Officer for 3d Marine Division.
LtCol Murray is a graduate of the School of Advanced Warfighting, a distinguished graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School and a distinguished graduate of the Operations and Tactics Instructor Course. He holds a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.