Sergeant Major Elena M. Rodriguez currently serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.
Prior to her current assignment in June 2026, she served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit; Sergeant Major, Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3; Sergeant Major, Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225. She was appointed to her current rank in January 2018.
Sergeant Major Rodriguez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and began her service at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina in February 2000. Since then, she has served in the Fleet Marine Forces with I, II and III Marine Expeditionary Forces in the following units: 1st Transportation Support Battalion (February 2001 – July 2002); 11th Marines Regiment (April 2005 – October 2007); Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (July 2011 – October 2013); Combat Logistics Battalion 4 (October 2013 – September 2016); 1st Supply Battalion (September 2016 – January 2018); Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (January 2018 – May 2019); Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 (May 2019 – December 2021); 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (December 2021 – July 2024); 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (July 2024 – June 2026); and 3d Marine Aircraft Wing (June 2026 – Present)
She has also served in the Supporting Establishment with Headquarters Marine Corps, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, and Training and Education Command in the following units: Headquarters Marine Corps Promotion Branch (August 2000 – February 2001); Marine Security Guard School and the American Embassy San José, Costa Rica / American Consulate Hong Kong, China (July 2002 – April 2005); 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Headquarters and Service Battalion and Drill Instructor School (October 2007 – July 2011).
Sergeant Major Rodriguez’s operational experience includes support to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; humanitarian assistance operations during Operation DAMAYAN; BALIKATAN 15 and BALIKATAN 16; deployment with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 in support of the Unit Deployment Program to the Western Pacific in 2019; deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Western Pacific 23.1 within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility; redeployment to the Philippines in support of Summer Series 24; deployment to Naples, Italy in support of Task Force 61/2; and participation in BALTOPS 25, a combined operation alongside NATO allies and partners in the Baltic Sea region. Deployed as Task Force 48 in support of U.S. Southern Command, executing Department of War-directed named operations in support of national security and National Command Authority priorities through integrated join operations.
She has attended numerous Professional Military Education courses, including Senior Enlisted Joint PME I and II (Non-Resident), and the Keystone Course.
Sergeant Major Rodriguez’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of fifth award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of fourth award).