Lieutenant Colonel Melissa A. DePriest is a native of Liberty, Missouri and graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. She attended Officer Candidates School in 2005 and was commissioned in May 2006 through the Platoon Leaders Course-Combined Program. After graduating The Basic School in December 2006, she reported to Recruiting Station Kansas City, 9th Marine Corps Recruiting District and served as the Assistant Officer Selection Officer. In February 2007, she attended the Aviation Maintenance Officer School, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida. She then reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and served as the Quality Assurance Officer and the Aviation Information Systems Department Head. In October 2007, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest reported to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 where she served as the Maintenance Material Control Officer. Lieutenant Colonel DePriest deployed twice with VMAQ-3 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In July 2010, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest reported to Officer Candidates School (OCS) where she served as Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, Academic Instructor, Curriculum Officer in Charge, and Operations Special Projects Officer on behalf of the Commanding Officer. While assigned to OCS, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest was selected for resident Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS). In May 2014, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest graduated EWS and was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 where she served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and the Ground Support Equipment Division Officer.
In June 2016, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest reported to 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) to serve as the Senior Watch Officer. During this tour she integrated the Combined Task Force 51 (CTF-51) and 5th MEB watch floors, which currently operates as Task Force 51/5 and is the only fully integrated Navy and Marine Corps watch floor and staff within the Department of Defense. Subsequently, she was selected for resident Command and Staff College (CSC). Upon graduating from CSC in June 2018, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest reported to the Aviation Sustainment Branch, Aviation Department, Headquarters Marine Corps. She served as the Marine Corps Aviation Logistics Innovation Officer and led sustainment efforts for Marine Corps Unmanned Aerial Systems and the integration of new technologies which supported every type/model/series platform in the Marine Aviation inventory.
In May of 2021, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest transferred to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 (MALS-39) at Camp Pendleton to serve as the Executive Officer. While serving as the MALS-39 Executive Officer, Lieutenant Colonel DePriest was selected to serve as Commanding Officer of MALS-39 where she is currently assigned.
Lieutenant Colonel DePriest holds a Masters of Military Studies from Marine Corps University. Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.