Brandon M. Ward was raised in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. In 2004, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from East Carolina University. After graduation he moved to Tampa, Florida to attend graduate school at the University of South Florida. In 2006, after graduating with a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science, he attended Officer Candidate School and commissioned in December 2006. Upon graduation in December 2007 from the Infantry Officer Course, 2ndLt Ward reported to 2d Battalion, 6th Marines.
2ndLt Ward deployed as a rifle platoon commander with Battalion Landing Team 2/6 with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2008, and supported counter-piracy operations with Combined Task Force 151. Following this deployment in 2010, 1stLt Ward deployed as the company executive officer and a joint terminal attack controller for 1st Battalion, 2d Marines in Musa Qala and Now Zad, Afghanistan.
In February 2011, following his combat deployment, Captain Ward began a tour at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. At the First Recruit Training Battalion, he served as a series commander, company commander, and battalion operations officer.
In May 2015 after graduation from Expeditionary Warfare School, Captain Ward reported to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and assumed command of Headquarters & Services Company. During company command the battalion deployed to Okinawa, Japan as Battalion Landing Team 1/5 with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. In the latter half of this deployment, Captain Ward was selected to be the Aide-de-Camp, 1st Marine Division. He served as the Aide-de-Camp from May 2016 until his promotion in May 2017.
Major Ward began the Command & General Staff Officer Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in July 2017. During this course, he was selected to the Art of War Scholars Program. This program studies the strategic and operational levels of war and warfighting based on the analysis of the history of warfare and earned a Master of Military Arts and Science Degree. The following year he attended the Advanced Military Studies Program and earned a Master of Arts in Military Operations.
In 2019 Major Ward reported to 3d Marine Division as a Marine Air Ground Task Force Planner. While at 3d Marine Division he led operational planning teams for Force Design initiatives and developed deliberate plans for burgeoning challenges in the Western Pacific. In May 2021, he reported to 3d Reconnaissance Battalion. As the executive officer, he led the battalion's "Fight Now" and Force Design concepts of employment that supported the Commanding Generals of 3d Marine Division and III Marine Expeditionary Force requirements for conducting distributed operations in a joint maritime operating environment within the first island chain.
In July 2022 Major Ward reported to the Capabilities Development Directorate, Headquarters Marine Corps. During this tour he supported the capability development of the Force Design Infantry Battalion, and supported integration of the Marine Littoral Regiment concept of employment across Headquarters Marine Corps, the Joint Force, and with Congressional leadership. Additionally, he developed and facilitated the Campaign of Learning Audit Group Wargame that led to refining the Service's end strength with capability development timelines.
Lieutenant Colonel Ward's personal awards include a Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.