1st Marine Division Biographies

SgtMaj E. Roacho

Press Operations — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:12:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Roacho is from Los Angeles California. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 2003 and graduated from MCRD, San Diego. Upon completion of School of Infantry. he received the primary Military Occupational Specialty of 0331, Infantry Machine gunner, and received orders to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

LtCol D.M. Littlejohn

Press Operations — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:53:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Littlejohn was born in Washington, D.C. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Norfolk State University and commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 2008.

SgtMaj Aaron Diaz

Press Operations — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Diaz was born on 18 November 1984 in El Paso, Texas. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 8 September 2003 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California and was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class. Sergeant Major Diaz attended Marine Combat Training School (MCT) at Camp Pendleton, California.

CMDCM Wayne M. George

Press Operations — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:18:00 GMT

Master Chief George is a native of Bloomfield, New Mexico. He enlisted in 1994 and attended Recruit Training at Great Lakes, Illinois, before reporting to the Navy’s Religious Program Specialist School in Meridian, Mississippi.

SgtMaj J. C. Marrufo

Press Operations — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:48:45 GMT

Sergeant Major Janet Marrufo enlisted in the Marine Corps in Round Lake, IL in 2004. Upon completing Recruit Training at MCRD Parris Island, Marine Combat Training and military occupational school in Jacksonville, North Carolina for Personnel Administration School, Private First Class Marrufo was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Headquarters Group, Camp Pendleton, CA.

Brigadier General Ryan M. Hoyle

Press Operations — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 21:43:00 GMT

Colonel Hoyle assumed duties as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division on 12 June 2025.

SgtMaj M. M. Taylor

Press Operations — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 04:51:00 GMT

SgtMaj Taylor was born in Olongapoh City, Phillipines and grew up Green Cove Springs, FL.

LtCol C. D. DeVries

Press Operations — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:18:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher deVries, a native of Washington State, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February of 2008.

LtCol Mark Saville

Press Operations — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:58:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Saville enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in May 2003 and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 25th Marines prior to graduating from Norwich University and commissioning in May 2007.  His fleet assignments include: Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon Commander and 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander with 3d Battalion, 1st Marines; Company Commander and Battalion Operations Officer with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.

LtCol Benjamin Gallo

Press Operations — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:11:00 GMT

LtCol Benjamin Gallo was born in Jacksonville, Florida and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He commissioned in 2009 from the United States Naval Academy.

Sergeant Major Hector J. Soto-Rodriguez

Press Operations — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 01:10:07 GMT

Sergeant Major Hector Soto-Rodriguez is a native of Fajardo, Puerto Rico and he enlisted into the Marine Corps as an infantryman in 1998. After graduating from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego California, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Private First Class before receiving orders to the School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, California.

SgtMaj Julian Muñoz

Press Operations — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:06:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Muñoz enlisted on January 2003, into the United States Marine Corps and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, South Carolina.

LtCol Joseph E. Sawyer

Press Operations — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:59:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Sawyer was commissioned upon graduation from the University of Mississippi through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in December 2007.

Major General Thomas B. Savage

Press Operations — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 01:54:18 GMT

Major General Savage enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1986, is a graduate of California State University, Chico, and was commissioned in August 1991. He is a graduate of The Basic School, the Infantry Officer Course, the U.S. Army Infantry Captains Career Course (honor graduate), the Marine Corps Command and Staff Course (distinguished graduate), the School of Advanced Warfighting, the Naval War College (with distinction), and the United Kingdom Higher Command and Staff Course. He has also completed U.S. Army Ranger School, U.S. Army Airborne School, and the USMC Basic Reconnaissance Course.

SgtMaj M.D. Reynolds

Press Operations — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 22:07:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Reynolds was born in Sidney, Ohio and graduated from recruit training in May of 2004 from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.

Brigadier General Patrick F. Tiernan

Press Operations — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:01:41 GMT

Brigadier General Patrick Tiernan is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

SgtMaj J.M. Elizondo

Press Operations — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:56:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Elizondo was born in Houston, Texas and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on July 8, 2002. He graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, California in October 2002 and reported to Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) at Camp Pendleton, California. Upon completion of ITB, where he earned the Military Occupational Specialty of 0311 Rifleman, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

SgtMaj R.L. Jacobs

Press Operations — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:41:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Jacobs joined the Marine Corps on 28 May 1996 and reported to MCRD Parris Island for recruit training. Upon completion of basic training, he reported to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry (East).

Col J.C. Armas

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:38:00 GMT

Colonel Jason C. Armas is from Rye, NY, and earned his commission through the United States Naval Academy in May 2001.

SgtMaj M.T. Escobar

Press Operations — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:40:00 GMT

SgtMaj Escobar was born in Berea, SC and reported to MCRD Parris Island for basic training in March 2000. Upon graduating from MCRD and completing MCT he reported to Towed Artillery Technician School at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. Upon completion, he reported to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines, Battery G, Camp Lejeune in November 2000. He participated in various training exercises and deployed to Zaragoza, Spain in support of Dynamic Mix. SgtMaj Escobar received orders to Marine Security Guard School in January 2004.