Colonel Howard began his service in the United States Marine Corps in 1994 as an infantry assaultman with 23rd Marines and 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance. In 2001, he commissioned upon earning a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science from the University of Utah.
After completing The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course, he returned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance as a Platoon Commander with Company C. In 2003, Colonel Howard deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and subsequently redeployed to Japan under the Unit Deployment Program with the Combat Assault Battalion. After transitioning from active duty in 2004, he assumed command of Company C, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance in Riverton, Utah.
Colonel Howard joined 4th Force Reconnaissance in 2006. During this tour, he served in multiple leadership roles—including Platoon Commander, Assistant Operations Officer, Operations Officer, and ultimately Detachment Officer in Charge at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
In 2011, Colonel Howard assumed Command of Company D, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He continued his service at 4th Reconnaissance Battalion in San Antonio, Texas, as Battalion Executive Officer. From 2016 to 2018, he served with 1st Civil Affairs Group (1st CAG) at Camp Pendleton, California, first as the Interorganizational Integration Officer and then as a Detachment Commander.
In 2018, Colonel Howard assumed Command of 4th Force Reconnaissance as its final Commanding Officer, overseeing its operations until the unit cased its colors. He returned to 1st CAG in 2021 as the Executive Officer before being selected in 2022 to serve as the first Operations Officer of the newly established Marine Innovation Unit. In 2024, he transitioned to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Staff Training Program (MSTP) IMA, where he has served as the Director of Plans.
Colonel Howard’s military education includes the Expeditionary Warfare School, the Command and Staff College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His civilian academic achievements comprise a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Utah, and an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Outside of uniform, Colonel Howard has worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, led space initiatives as Director of Space Programs at Raytheon, and currently serves as a director at a technology company in Massachusetts.