The Commanding Officer of the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion is Lieutenant Colonel Karla M. Jessup.

Lieutenant Colonel Jessup graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. She joined the Marine Corps and attended Officer Candidate School in October 1987 where she was injured with a stress fracture. She returned to Officer Candidate School in June 1988. Upon completion of the Basic School, Jessup attended Military Police Basic Officer Course at Lackland Air Force Base.

In 1989, Jessup served as a platoon commander and operations officer at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. Prior to her deployment to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, she served as the deputy provost marshal. Jessup deployed to Southwest Asia in December 1990 as the security officer at the Jubail Airport.

Jessup reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island as a series commander with 4th RTBn. in 1992. She completed three training cycles and transferred to the Recruit Training Regiment S-4. She returned to 4th RTBn. to complete another cycle as a series commander before taking command of November Company in 1994.

Upon completion of Amphibious Warfare School in 1996, Jessup transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to serve as the deputy provost marshal. While there, she attended the FBI Academy. Upon completion of the academy, she returned to Miramar and served as the operations officer.

From 1999-2002, Jessup served as the recruiting station commanding officer in Houston, Texas. Following her successful command, she attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

In 2003, Jessup reported to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. to serve as branch chief, Detainee Affairs, Joint Security Directorate, U.S. Central Command. While at Central Command, she deployed on several occasions to the AOR to include Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. She also attended the Joint Forces Staff College.

In June 2006, she transferred back to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island and worked in the G-3 operations office until assumption of command.