1st Marine Division

Lieutenant Colonel Wittnam was born in Hampton, Iowa and raised in Greeley, Colorado.  He graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Agricultural Economics in May 1994.  Following graduation he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served as an infantryman in 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division until he was commissioned via the Enlisted Commissioning Program as Second Lieutenant in 1995.  Upon graduation from the Basic Officer Course and Infantry Officer Course, he reported to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  During this tour, he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer.  In 1998 he deployed with Battalion Landing Team 3/2 and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
In early 1999, 1st Lieutenant Wittnam reported to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Camp Schwab, Okinawa.  During this tour, he served as a Platoon Commander and Company Commander.  In 2011 he deployed with the 31st marine Expeditionary Unit.  Following the deployment in the western Pacific, Captain Wittnam attended the Infantry Captains Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia and graduated in June 2002.

Captain Wittnam reported to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in June 2002.  He served as the Commanding officer of Charlie Company until July 2003.  During this period, he deployed as part of Task Force Tarawa in Regiment as the Assistant Operations Officer and later deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II as the Small Craft Company Commander in September 2004.

Major Wittnam reported to the Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group in Twentynine Palms, California in June 2005.  He served two years as a Maneuver Representative and one year as the Combined Arms Section Head.  In July 2008, he attended the Naval Command and Staff College (NCSC) in Newport, Rhode Island.  He graduated in June 2009 with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Following graduation from NSCS, Maj Wittnam reported to United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida to serve in J5 Plans, J35 Future Operations and Aide de Camp to the Combatant Commander.

In June 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Wittnam reported to 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California to serve as the Future Operations Officer.  From August 2011 until August 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Wittnam deployed with Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT-5) to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Upon return from Afghanistan he assumed duties as the 5th Marine Regiment Operations Officer until February 2013.