Marines


Leaders
Commanding Officer, II MEF Support Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel Robert A. Fairley

LtCol Fairley was born in Salem, Virginia in 1979 and attended Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina in 1997. He obtained the rank of sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve before receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in January 2003.

After graduating from the Logistics Officers Course in 2004, LtCol Fairley reported to 2d Transportation Support Battalion and deployed to Haiti as part of the Marine Corps’ first activation of the Alert Contingency MAGTF. There he served as a Landing Support Platoon Commander for Combat Service Support Detachment-20 during Operation Secure Tomorrow. Upon returning to the U.S., he transferred to 8th Engineer Support Battalion and served as the unit’s Motor Transport Officer and Platoon Commander. In 2005, he deployed with the unit to Iraq where he managed all battalion motor transportation operations throughout Al Anbar Province. LtCol Fairley was then selected to serve as the Staff Secretary for 2d MLG.

From 2006 to 2009, LtCol Fairley served as the Logistics Officer for Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2. He deployed with the squadron to Iraq in 2007, again in 2008, and then he deployed with the unit to Afghanistan in 2009 to embark and establish the first Marine Corps Unmanned Aerial System squadron-level capability in Afghanistan.

In 2009, LtCol Fairley was selected to attend the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course. Upon graduation, he transferred to the Defense Human Resources Activity, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, where he facilitated the DoD’s All-Volunteer Force recruitment concept by managing 37.5 million records used to support recruitment efforts for all military services. 

In 2013, LtCol Fairley transferred to Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer for 3d Supply Battalion. During this period, he planned and executed many Theater Security Cooperation and real-world military operations across the Pacific. LtCol Fairley then served as the Operations Officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 35 and deployed to Korea during Freedom Banner/ Ssang Yong. This proved to be the largest combined amphibious exercise in modern Marine Corps history. In 2016, LtCol Fairley was selected as part of a U.S. delegation and deployed to Germany to serve in the J-4, Coalition Forces Land Component Command during NATO exercise Determined Effort. He graduated with distinction from U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College in 2017 with a 4.0 GPA.

      From 2017 to 2019, LtCol Fairley served as the Prepositioning and Auxiliary Ships Requirements Section Lead at Maritime Expeditionary Warfare Division, HQMC Combat Development and Integration. During this time, he managed Marine Corps equities to support Strategic Sealift Recapitalization to replace the aging surge sealift fleet, maritime prepositioning, hospital ships, and others. In 2019, he assumed the duties of Logistics Combat Element and Supporting Establishment Branch Head, Total Force Structure Division where he supported the 38th Commandant’s Future Force Design modernization efforts. He assumed command of II MSB on 30 Jun 2020.

      LtCol Fairley is the 2019 recipient of the Admiral Ben Moreell Award for Logistics Competence. Other personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars, and Combat Action Ribbon.

Tags