Captain Rankin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 2007. Upon graduation from recruit training, Private Rankin was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class and completed Marine Combat Training. He was promoted to Lance Corporal shortly before graduating his radio repairman courses at the top of his class in September 2008. LCpl Rankin was assigned to Headquarters (HQ) Company, Combat Logistics Regiment-15 (CLR-15) at Camp Pendleton, CA and was temporarily attached to Reparable Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, CLR-15. LCpl Rankin was meritoriously promoted to Corporal then deployed to Afghanistan with Combat Logistics Battalion-1 in support of (ISO) Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Moshtarak. While deployed, he held the billets of Squad Leader, Communications (Comm) Chief, and Mounted Machine Gunner. In April 2010, Cpl Rankin returned to HQ Co, CLR-15 from his deployment and served as the Quality Control Non-Commissioned Officer, Comm Maintenance Chief, and Platoon Sergeant. Cpl Rankin was promoted to Sergeant in May 2011 and he completed his active duty tour in September 2011. Sgt Rankin then enrolled at Northern Arizona University (NAU).
Sgt Rankin joined the reserves with Bulk Fuel Company C (BF Co C), 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Luke Air Force Base, AZ in January 2012. From the time he joined through October 2014, Sgt Rankin served as a Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Corporal’s Course Student Advisor, and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor. In November 2014, Sgt Rankin was promoted to Staff Sergeant. SSgt Rankin went to Norway temporarily as the Bulk Fuel Staff Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge (SNCOIC) in June 2015 to conduct preventative maintenance on prepositioned gear. Additionally, SSgt Rankin held the billets of Platoon Commander and Detachment SNCOIC while still serving at BF Co C through May 2016. From May to August 2016, SSgt Rankin completed Officer Candidate School with the highest leadership average in his company. SSgt Rankin then returned to BF Co C and served as the Operations Chief until May 2017. SSgt Rankin graduated from NAU with his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 2017. 2ndLt Rankin served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer (acting) until he left BF Co C in September 2017.
2ndLt Rankin attended the Basic Officer Course at The Basic School, Quantico, VA from September 2017 until March 2018. He then proceeded to Fort Sill, OK to attend the Marine Artillery Officer Basic Course (MAOBC) in April 2018. 2ndLt Rankin graduated MAOBC in September 2018 as the distinguished honor graduate and was subsequently assigned to Battery O, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines (5/14). In January 2019, 2ndLt Rankin became the HQ Platoon Commander and the Battery Fire Direction Officer (FDO). 2ndLt Rankin was promoted to First Lieutenant in May 2019. 1stLt Rankin’s billet transitioned to Fire Support Officer in February 2021 and he was promoted to Captain in July 2021.
In November 2022, Capt Rankin was selected to serve as the Executive Officer for Battery N, 5/14 in preparation to deploy aboard the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). In February 2023, his battery was attached to 11th Marines, and subsequently deployed with Battalion Landing Team 2/1 ISO the 31st MEU 23.2, III Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. During this deployment Capt Rankin supported Talisman Sabre, a joint multi-service, multi-national exercise in Queensland, Australia. After successfully completing the MEU, Capt Rankin transitioned to serving as the Battalion FDO and Platoon Commander in March 2024 with HQ Battery, 5/14 where he executed two Reserve Integrated Training Exercise Culminating Events in 29 Palms, CA. Capt Rankin took command of Battery O, 5/14 in November 2024 where he is presently serving.
In his civilian life, Capt Rankin is a mechanical engineer where he specializes in utility-scale power plant modernization and engineering project management.