Lieutenant Colonel Alex M. Butta (Chicago, IL) commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in March 2009 through the Platoon Leaders Course Combined program after graduating from Western Illinois University. Following The Basic School and Combat Engineer Officer Course, he joined Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, where he served as Assistant Operations Officer, Construction Platoon Commander, Engineer Company Executive Officer, and Headquarters and Services Company Commander. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 10.1 in 2010.
In the summer of 2013, then-Captain Butta was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Camp Lejeune, NC, as Headquarters and Services Company Commander. He deployed in support of OEF 13.2 (2013-2014) and served as the Chief Engineer Advisor to the Afghan National Army 215th Corps as part of a Security Force Assistance Advisor Team.
In the summer of 2016, Captain Butta reported to the Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA. As Assistant Lead and Lead Combat Engineer (Coyote 13A/13), he supported 15 Integrated Training Exercises, providing instruction and mentorship to 38 combat engineer platoons. His responsibilities included oversight of the safe expenditure of 214,000 pounds of explosive breaching ordnance during training evolutions.
In July 2019, then-Major Butta was assigned to 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Okinawa, Japan, as the MEB Engineer Officer and a Future Operations planner. He served as lead planner for bilateral exercises Yama Sakura 79 and 81 with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. Additionally, he contributed to the development of multiple operational plans and the execution of numerous joint and bilateral Operations, Activities, and Investments (OAI) with key regional partners.
Major Butta joined 9th Engineer Support Battalion in June 2022 as the Battalion Operations Officer, transitioning to Battalion Executive Officer in May 2023. He facilitated over 50 significant OAIs and enabled the battalion's success during the FY23 Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, the FY24 Field Supply and Maintenance Analysis Office inspection, and the FY24 Commanding General's Inspection.
In June 2024, LtCol Butta reported to the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Command Element as the staff engineer officer. He concurrently led Pacific Posture planning efforts for III MEF, contributing significantly to two service-level planning initiatives.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and the Navy Achievement Medal.