Lieutenant Colonel Kirsch is a native of Spotsylvania, VA where he attended high school before attending the College of William and Mary where he graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Political Science. In 2008 he attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA and was commissioned in August 2008.
After completing The Basic School and Infantry Officer's Course, he reported to 2d Battalion, 9th Marines in July 2009 where he served as a Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Weapons Platoon Commander from July 2009 to May 2010. In May 2010, LtCol Kirsch was assigned to H&S Company as an Afghan National Army Advisor Team Leader where he deployed to Marjah, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from July 2010 to February 2011. Upon redeployment, he was assigned as the 81mm Mortar Platoon commander and deployed again to Marjah, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from December 2011 to July 2012.
LtCol Kirsch was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned to the Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-East in October 2012. He served as an Executive Officer for Company C, Commanding Officer for Companies A and B, Battalion Operations Officer, and Academics Officer.
In August 2015, LtCol Kirsch was assigned to the Marine Corps University where he attended the Expeditionary Warfare School from August 2015 to May 2016 in Quantico, VA. Upon graduating, he received orders to 3d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion serving as the Alpha Company Commander and deploying his company to Okinawa in support of the Combat Assault Battalion and the Unit Deployment Program where he participated in Exercise Cobra Gold 18 and Task Force Iron Fist 18.2. From May 2018 - July 2019 he served as the Operations Officer for 3d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.
From July 2019 to June 2022, LtCol Kirsch served as the Inspector-Instructor, Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines in Brunswick, ME. There he served as a mentor to the SMCR Company Commander and site commander for Armed Forces Reserve Center Brunswick, ME. LtCol Kirsch was then assigned to the resident United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS where he graduated the Command and General Staff Officer's Course with honors and received orders to the Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group. There he served as the Maneuver Section OIC and a corridor coyote for numerous Service Level Training Exercises. LtCol Kirsch assumed the his current role as the Inspector-Instructor, 1st Bn, 25th Marines on 1 July, 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Kirsch's professional military resident education includes the Mortar Platoon Leaders Course, Expeditionary Warfare School, Operations and Tactics Instructor Course, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His contingency and combat experience includes Operation Enduring Freedom (two deployments) and his personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device and one gold star, and the Combat Action Ribbon.