LtCol Benjamin Gallo is a native of Texas. He commissioned in 2009 from the United States Naval Academy.
Upon completion of the Infantry Officers Course, LtCol Gallo received orders to 2d Light
Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion. He deployed in 2011 with the 26th Marine
Expeditionary Unit (MEU) as the LAR platoon commander in support of Operation Odyssey
Dawn/Unified Protector, and again in 2012 with the 24th MEU and Battalion Landing Team
(BLT) 1/2 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While at 2d LAR, he served as Executive
Officer, Company D and as the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer.
Following 2d LAR, LtCol Gallo served as an instructor at the Officer Candidates School and as
the LAR Functional Test Manager for the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force (GCEITF)
in Quantico, Virginia. He graduated from resident PME at Expeditionary Warfare School
(EWS) in 2016. He then executed orders to the Pentagon as a member of the Secretary of the
Navy’s Innovation Advisory Council.
LtCol Gallo reported to Third Battalion, First Marines (3/1) in 2017. While assigned to 3/1, he
served as the Commanding Officer for Headquarters and Service Company and deployed with
BLT 3/1 in support of the 13th MEU in 2018. Following the deployment, LtCol Gallo was
selected to serve as 3/1’s Operations Officer. In 2019, 3/1 executed Southwest Border Operation
19.2. In 2020, LtCol Gallo deployed as the GCE Operations Officer for SPMAGTF-Crisis
Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) 21.1. 3/1 executed operations in support
Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria. He was subsequently selected to attend
the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) as a student.
In 2022, LtCol Gallo graduated from SAMS and earned his Master of Military Operations
degree. From 2022-2025, LtCol Gallo served as a Future Operations Planner, Korea Plans
Officer, and China Plans Officer at I Marine Expeditionary Force.
LtCol Gallo is a Distinguished Graduate from Resident EWS, the Marine Corps Command and
Staff Distance Education Program, the Operations and Tactics Instructor Course (OTI), and the
School of Advanced Military Studies.
LtCol Gallo assumed command of Third Battalion, First Marines on 10 January 2025.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, the Navy and
Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.