Lieutenant Colonel David Tran graduated from the University of California, Riverside and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 2005.
Upon completion of The Basic School and Combat Engineer Officers Course, Second Lieutenant Tran reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 at Camp Pendleton, California in 2006 where he served as Engineer Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer. First Lieutenant Tran then reported to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and deployed as Combat Engineer Platoon Commander, Task Force Chromite to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. In 2008, he returned to MWSS-372 and assumed the duties as Assistant Operations Officer and Squadron Operations Officer and was recognized as the Marine Wing Support Group 37 Engineer Officer of the Year.
In 2009, he was promoted to Captain and reported to 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan where he immediately deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. After returning to Okinawa, Captain Tran assumed command of Combat Engineer Company (CEC), Combat Assault Battalion, 3d Marine Division. In 2011, Captain Tran was temporarily assigned to Combined-Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force – Philippines and served as the USMC operations officer overseeing operations and bilateral exercises for a joint force of over 800 personnel.
Captain Tran completed Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia in 2012. He reported to 1st Marine Logistics Group (MLG) in Camp Pendleton, California where he immediately deployed to Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM as the 1st MLG (Fwd) Engineer Officer. In 2013, Captain Tran reported to Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and served as MEB planner, Future Operations, and S-4 Officer before he was transferred to 7th Engineer Support Battalion where he assumed command of Company A. Captain Tran relinquished command of Alpha Company and assumed duties as the Battalion Operations Officer.
In 2015, Major Tran was selected for the Advanced Degree Program and received admission to the School of Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After graduate studies, he reported to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California and served as the Environmental Director. In 2019, he reported to 7th Engineer Support Battalion and served as the Battalion Executive Officer. In 2020, he reported to 1st Marine Logistics Group staff and served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3.
His military education includes Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (Aviation Ground Support honor graduate), Tactical MAGTF Integration Course, resident Expeditionary Warfare School (1stLt Harry L. Martin Award, engineer honor graduate), non-resident USMC Command and Staff College (Distinguished Graduate), and Joint Engineer Operations Course.
Lieutenant Colonel Tran holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from UCLA (Sustainability Innovation Grant winner, City of Los Angeles). His personal military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and Combat Action Ribbon.