Colonel David McElliott currently serves as the assistant division commander, 4th Marine Division. 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, where he served as a rifle platoon commander and deployed to the Western Pacific as part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC). Following that deployment, he served as the officer in charge of the 1st Marines Boathouse before leaving active duty. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Col McElliott returned to the Marine Corps Reserve.
Colonel McElliott's command and operational assignments include: company commander, Echo Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion; company commander, Echo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (mobilized); operations officer, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company; commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment; officer in charge, Georgia Training Team 2016 (mobilized); brigade team leader, Marine Corps Advisor Company Bravo; senior reserve advisor, 25th Marine Regiment, and assistant division commander, 4th Marine Division.
His staff assignments include executive officer, Advisor Training Cell, I Marine Expeditionary Force (mobilized); strategy and policy officer, Marine Forces Central Command (mobilized); USMC liaison to the Joint Force Land Component Command (JFLCC) of U.S. Northern Command (mobilized); chief of staff, Marine Forces South (mobilized), and remain behind element officer in charge, 5th Marine Regiment (mobilized).
Colonel McElliott is a graduate of the resident programs at the NATO Defense College and the Air War College. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.