A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel David A. Merles enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996. He graduated from the Citadel and commissioned in 2002.

Lieutenant Colonel Merles’ FMF assignments include Transportation Support Detachment OIC/AOIC, MSSG-22; 22d MEU(SOC); Assistant Operations Officer, CLB-22, 22d MEU; Logistics Officer, H&S Company Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines; Logistics Officer, 3d Marine Regiment; and Ground Operations Officer, FMF INDO-PACOM. Lieutenant Colonel Merles has deployed in support of OIF and OEF.

Lieutenant Colonel Merles’ supporting establishment assignments include Warfighting Instructor, Staff Platoon Commander for WOBC 1-09, BOC 6-09, and WOBC 1-10, and Company M Executive Officer, The Basic School; and Marine Officer Instructor for North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Duke University.

Lieutenant Colonel Merles is a Marine logistician. Formal professional military education includes the U.S. Army’s Combined Logistics Captains’ Career Course and the U.S. Navy’s College of Naval Command and Staff. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Citadel, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.