1st Marine Division

Lieutenant Colonel Moran was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1995 after graduating from the University of Michigan.  Upon completion of The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, he reported to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines where he served as a rifle platoon commander, weapons platoon commander, and 81mm mortar platoon commander from May 1996 to July 1998.  During this period he deployed with his battalion to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

From August 1998 to August 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Moran served as a project officer in the Infantry Weapons Directorate of Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia where he worked on the Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad program. In August 2001, he attended the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia.

After graduation from AWS, Lieutenant Colonel Moran reported to 1st Marine Division in July 2002 where he served as the Company Commander, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines and as Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/4’s Operations Officer.  During this period he deployed with the battalion in January 2003 and served in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I. He again deployed with BLT 1/4 as the ground combat element of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) to Najaf, Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II.

In May 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Moran reported as a summer augment to Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virgina where he served as the company commander for the 10-week Officer Candidates Course company.  In August 2005 he reported to The Basic School where he served as Command Section Head and Deputy Director of the school’s Warfigthing Instruction Group. He then served as the company commander of two Basic Officer Course companies. In August 2008 he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff course and following graduation in June 2009 he attended the School of Advanced Warfighting through June 2010.

From July 2010 to June 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Moran served as the Plans Officer and Future Operations Officer, G-3 for 3d Marine Logistics Group in Okinawa, Japan.  During this period, he supported the execution of Operation TOMODACHI (tsunami relief) in Mainland Japan and deployed to Thailand for exercise Cobra Gold 2012 as the Combined Marine Forces Component lead planner.

In July 2012 Lieutenant Colonel Moran returned to 1st Marine Division where he served as the Executive Officer, 1st Marine Regiment prior to taking command of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines.