Colonel McElliott is currently serving as the Chief of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South. A native of Snohomish County, Washington State. In 1992 he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and served in Alpha Company, 4th Landing Support Battalion. He attended the University of Washington on an NROTC scholarship and graduated in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in History. His first operational assignment was as an infantry officer with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. There he served as a rifle platoon commander and deployed to the Western Pacific as part of the 11th MEU (SOC). After the MEU deployment, he served as the OIC of the 1st Marines Boathouse and left active duty.