Nicholas Pepe is a native of St. George, Utah. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2013 and attended recruit training at Golf Company, 2d Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California from October 2013 to January 2014.
Private First Class Pepe completed recruit training in January 2014 and subsequently attended Infantry Training Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California. Upon graduation, he reported to Company F, 2d Battalion, 23rd Marines in April 2014, while simultaneously pursuing college studies and working full-time in armed security in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in July 2014. From 2014 to 2016, he served as a grenadier and assistant fire team leader before assuming duties as a fire team leader. In 2016, he was selected to attend Officer Candidates School, earned his Associate of Arts degree from the College of Southern Nevada, and welcomed the birth of his first child, Maya in April of 2016. That summer, he attended PLC Juniors, transferred to Grand Canyon University, and continued drilling with Fox Company, 2/23. The following summer, he attended PLC Seniors, again returning to drill with Fox Company after graduation.
In January 2018, Lance Corporal Pepe was promoted to Corporal and served as squad leader for 3rd Platoon, 2nd Squad. Later that year, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies from Grand Canyon University. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February 2019, he reported to The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, graduating in November 2019. He then transferred to Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 at NAS Pensacola, Florida, as a flight student. From December 2019 to January 2021, Second Lieutenant Pepe completed Aviation Water Survival training and the Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE) course, including classroom instruction and flight training, before receiving orders to NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, for Primary Flight Training. Also during this period, he welcomed the birth of his second child, Erik, in May of 2020. In February of 2021, Second Lieutenant Pepe was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. In June of 2021, due to significant training delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, student personnel assigned to MATSG-21 were offered voluntary redesignation to another occupational field. First Lieutenant Pepe requested redesignation, and was assigned the MOS 0402, Logistics Officer.
In September of 2021 First Lieutenant Pepe reported to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines aboard MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for on-the-Job Training, reporting to the Logistics Officers Course 5-22 in October. Upon return from TAD in December of 2021 First Lieutenant Pepe assigned as the Assistant Logistics Officer. Shortly thereafter upon departure of the S-4, First Lieutenant Pepe assumed duties as the acting Battalion S-4 for a period of months until the arrival of an 0402 Captain in August. During this time, First Lieutenant Pepe planned and executed multiple Battalion Field Exercises, oversaw the preparation and deployment, and support of personnel on multiple deployments for training from Ft. Stewart, GA in support of joint training with US Army Rangers, as well as two exercises in the EUCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR) in support of multinational training exercises.
Following selection to Captain, First Lieutenant Pepe received Permanent Change of Assignment orders to Headquarters Battalion 2D Mardiv in September of 2022, where he assumed duties as the Assistant Operations Officer. In March of 2023, First Lieutenant Pepe was given TAD orders to the 2D Mardiv G-3 to serve as the logistics planner for the Midshipmen Summer Training Program (MSTP) planning cell. Following the departure of the Captain assigned as the operations officer for the cell, First Lieutenant Pepe assumed the roles of both operations and logistics planner, reporting to the G-3 Plans officer. While executing the MSTP in June of 2023, First Lieutenant Pepe was promoted to the Rank of Captain. Captain Pepe then oversaw the remainder of the MSTP with over 1300 Naval Academy and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps midshipmen trained. Captain Pepe and Marines assigned to the planning cell each received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for their efforts in support of this exercise.
In August of 2023, Capt Pepe returned from TAD to Headquarters Battalion and assumed the role of Battalion Logistics Officer. While there, he served as the Environmental Compliance Officer, Container Control Officer, Exceptional Family Member Program representative, Foreign Disclosure Officer, and Foreign Travel officer. During this period, Captain Pepe oversaw the planning and execution of 5 iterations of the Division Leaders Assessment Program, Multiple Division and MEF training exercises to include the Mission Readiness Exercise and Joint Task-Force Exercise, and deployment of personnel to both the CENTCOM and EUCOM AORs in support of contingency operations and multinational training exercises. Captain Pepe also oversaw preparation for, and as the Container Control Officer, stood a Field Supply and Maintenance Analysis Office inspection, resulting in Headquarters Battalion being identified as a Tier-1 unit.
In July of 2024, Capt Pepe executed orders and assumed duties as the Inspector-Instructor for Detachment 1, Transportation Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 25. To date, Captain Pepe has overseen two Annual Training exercises including the unit’s participation in Northern Strike 24-2, and ITX 3-25, as well as 10 Monthly Drill Weekends for the detachment’s SMCR population. Captain Pepe’s collateral duties include Battalion Ground Safety Officer, and Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives Officer.
Captain Pepe's personal awards include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal, and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal.