Sergeant Major Tacopino is a native of Manhasset, NY and spent part of his childhood in Queens, NY before moving to Freehold, NJ. Before graduating Freehold Township High School, Sergeant Major Tacopino enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He attended recruit training at 1ST Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. Upon completion of basic training, Sergeant Major Tacopino attended the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, NC.
In July 1997, Sergeant Major Tacopino was transferred off active duty to the Selective Marine Corps Reserve and reported to Company G, 2D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment, 4TH Marine Division, Dover, NJ. During the next 16 years at Company G 2/25, Sergeant Major Tacopino held the billets of Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander and Company Gunnery Sergeant.
While at Company G 2/25, Sergeant Major Tacopino attended numerous multi-national Annual Training events outside the continental United States to include Baltic Challenge 1998 (Lithuania), Operation: Battle Griffin 1999 (Norway), Operation: Rescue Eagle 2000 (Romania), Camp Fuji 2004 (Japan), Operation: Battle Griffin - 2006 (Norway), UN Operation: Khaan Quest 2007 (Mongolia) and Operation: Cold Response 2009 (Norway).
Also, while in Golf Company Sergeant Major Tacopino activated in January 2002 and attached to the 2D Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC. Company G was than further deployed forward to Kosovo and was attached to the US Army, Task Force 1-35, 1ST Infantry Division at Camp Bondsteel to conduct mounted and dismounted patrols along the Kosovo/Macedonia border. In March 2003 Sergeant Major Tacopino was again activated and deployed to An-Nasiriyah, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Just before demobilization, Sergeant Major Tacopino was Combat Meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In the summer of 2005, Sergeant Major Tacopino volunteered to be redeployed to Hit, Iraq as a combat casualty replacement for 3D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment. In 2008 2D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment was activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Sergeant Major Tacopino was deployed to the area of Akashat, Iraq near the Iraqi/Syrian border for support, stabilization, and border patrol operations.
In 2013 Sergeant Major Tacopino transferred over to an Individual Mobilization Augmentee billet and helped develop the newly formed reserve detachment of the Marines Corps' Chemical Biological Incident Response (CBIRF). While at CBIRF, Sergeant Major Tacopino held the billet of Watch Chief.
In April 2015, Sergeant Major Tacopino was selected to the rank of First Sergeant and assigned to Company F, 2D Battalion, 25TH Marine Regiment, 4TH Marine Division. In 2019 Sergeant Major Tacopino deployed with Company F to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with Task Force Southwest 19.2 in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and the Resolute Support Mission.
Sergeant Major Tacopino was selected for promotion to his current rank in March 2020 and was assigned to MWSS-472 in July 2020. Also in 2020, Sergeant Major Tacopino was selected to sit on the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board as an alternate member. He was then selected in 2021 to sit on the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board as a primary member where he served until December 2024.
In September 2023, Sergeant Major Tacopino assumed the billet of Marine Aircraft Group 41 Sergeant Major in Fort Worth, Texas.
Personal Decorations: Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars and Combat Conditions “C” device, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 gold stars, Army Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. Sergeant Major was also awarded the Marine Corps Institute's Graduate of the Year in 2002 and was recently awarded the 2025 Freehold Township Police Department Officer of the Year and several valor awards.
He reported in as the Marine Aircraft Group 49 Sergeant Major on 11 April 2026.