Lieutenant Colonel Rob Frye is a native of Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Georgia in December 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004 through the National Call to Service program, serving as an administration clerk in the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) G-1 Reserve Liaison Office. Following a mobilization with I MEF, he earned his commission in 2007 via the Officer Candidate Course – Reserve program. In June 2011, he completed a Master’s degree in International Affairs at the University of California, San Diego.
Lieutenant Colonel Frye’s most recent assignments include service at Headquarters, Marine Corps, Reserve Affairs Division, where he was the Deputy Branch Head for Reserve Affairs Personnel Management (RAM) and the Active Reserve Ground Lieutenant Colonel Monitor. He previously held key billets as the RAM-2 Section Head, AR Accessions Officer, and Ground Officer Monitor for majors and below.
His operational assignments include duty as Assistant Operations Officer and Support Platoon Commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 473; Engineer Company Executive Officer with MWSS-472; and Liaison Officer and Joint Intelligence Operations Center Advisor with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – South in Belize.
Outside the operating forces, Lieutenant Colonel Frye has served as Reserve Integration Officer with Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM) G-3/5/7, Deputy Branch Head at MARFORCOM G-1, Operations Officer at Deployment Processing Command/Reserve Support Unit-West, and in multiple billets within Reserve Affairs Division.
He is a graduate of numerous professional military education programs, including the Combat Engineer Officer Course, Amphibious Warfare Staff Planners Course, Joint Engineer Operations Course, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Marine Corps Security Management Course, Total Force Integration Staff Training, Expeditionary Warfare School (distance), and Marine Corps Command and Staff College (blended seminar). He is a recent graduate of the National War College, where he earned a Master’s degree in National Security Strategy.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal with bronze star.