Lieutenant Colonel Theo Martin graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO with a BA in history and a minor in political science and was commissioned on the United States Marine Corps in 2004. LtCol Martin attended The Basic School in July of 2004 and was assigned the military occupational specialty of Assault Amphibian Vehicle (AAV) officer upon graduation in December 2004.
Following his graduation LtCol Martin reported to 3D Assault Amphibian Battalion in Camp Pendelton, California in January 2005. After completion of Assault Amphibian School, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan attached to Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion 5th Marines for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the AAV platoon commander in July 2006. While deployed on the MEU he participated in numerous exercises to include PHIPLEX with the Philippine Marine Corps. Upon his return in January of 2007 LtCol Martin was assigned to C Co, 3D Assault Amphibian Bn as the Executive Officer and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The company deployed to Abu Hyatt, Al Anbar province and was attached to 3/23. LtCol Martin was the company level intelligence cell leader and mentored Iraqi Police and Army units the company was partnered with.
LtCol Martin executed orders to The Basic School in July of 2008 and was assigned as a warfighting instructor. He was a Staff Platoon Commander for Fox Company 2009 and Charlie Company 2010 and then the Executive Officer, Mike Company from October 2010, where he formed four basic officer companies. LtCol Martin executed orders to US Army Maneuver Captain’s Career Course in May of 2011.
LtCol Martin reported to 2D Assault Amphibian Battalion in October of 2011 and commanded Charlie Company. He relinquished command of the company in March of 2013. While in command of C Co, LtCol Martin prepared and certified a platoon for deployment in support of the 22 MEU and the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa, Japan. LtCol Martin reported to Advisor Training Cell, II MHG, 2 MEF on March of 2013 for duty as an advisor to the Afghan National Army (ANA) on a Security Force Assistance Advisor Team (SFAAT). He was assigned as the team's operations officer and the advisor to 4th Brigade (Bde) 215th Corps ANA operation’s section. The team deployed in August 2013 and returned April of 2014.
LtCol Martin then served as the Inspector-Instructor for Alpha Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division from July of 2014 until his EAS in October of 2017. He supported Alpha Company exercises in South Korea and 29 Palms California and numerous local training and community outreach events and lead the I-I staff through multiple site inspections.
LtCol Martin exited active service and directly affiliated with 4th AA BN and served as the BN operations officer from 2017 until January 2020. While serving as the operations officer he supervised two years of training plan generation and execution for the Battalion and assisted with the certification and deployment of two UDP platoons.
In January of 2020 LtCol Martin joined the Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) IMA detachment in Camp Smith Hawaii as a planner and supported multiple Combatant Command-level exercises focused on the Pacific. In June of 2022 LtCol Martin affiliated with HQMC PP&O War Plans branch as a planner, where he completed quarterly force apportionment and unified forces for combatant commands documents for the USMC for submission to the joint staff. He departed PP&O to accept command of 4th AA BN in December of 2023.
LtCol Martin has a MA in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma. He has graduated from the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Captain’s Career Course and USMC command and staff with distinction and is a graduate of the U.S Air Force Air War College. His personal awards are one SMCR service medal, one Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal, four Navy Commendation medals, and a meritorious service medal.