LtCol Maria A. Marte, USMC
Fourth Recruit Training Battalion
Commanding Officer

The Commanding Officer of the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion is Lieutenant Colonel Maria A. Marte.

Lieutenant Colonel Maria Marte was born and raised in New York City.  She attended DeVry Institute of Technology in Woodbridge, New Jersey where she earned a Bachelors Degree in 1986, for Electrical Engineering Technology.  After graduation, she enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1990.  She was assigned the MOS of Calibration Technician and stationed at Marine Air Logistics Squadron 31, MCAS Beaufort, SC.  In 1993, she deployed to Iwakuni, Japan.  When she returned from deployment she was commissioned through the Enlisted Commissioning Program as a Second Lieutenant in 1994. 

After graduating the Basic School in 1995, she was the first female in the Marine Corps to be assigned the MOS of Combat Engineer and assigned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion as a Platoon Commander.  In 1996, she participated with SPMAGTF (X) and when she returned from this deployment First Lieutenant Marte was assigned as Company Commander to Alpha Company, 7th ESB.  Her next station sent her back to Parris Island as a Series Commander and later Company Commander for 4th Recruit Training Battalion during 1998-2001.  During 2001 – 2002, she attended the Amphibious Warfare School.  During 2002, Captain Marte deployed to Okinawa, Japan as Company Commander for Headquarters and Service Company.  She was later directed to Pohang, Korea, as the Camp Commandant during 2003.

During 2003 – 2006, Major Marte was assigned as the Wing Engineer Officer, 2nd Marine Air Wing (MAW).  Major Marte deployed with 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to Afghanistan as a Landing Force Operation Center watch officer and subsequently a female searcher with Battalion Landing Team 1/6.  After returning from Afghanistan, she was sent forward to Iraq from 2005 - 2006 as the lead Engineer Officer for 2nd MAW where she developed the master plans for the Air Wing installations, and served as the base mayor in Al Anbar province. 

After returning from Iraq, Major Marte was assigned to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in 2006 where she earned her Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.  After completion of school, she was sent to Marine Forces South as an operations officer for Central America during 2007-2008.  From 2008 - 2010, Major Marte was then assigned to a joint assignment with US Southern Command and filled the billet as the Caribbean Engineer Chief in building partner nation engineering capability and humanitarian assistance, she was a first responder to Haiti disasters in 2008 and 2010.

Her personal awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (second star in lieu of third award), Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.