Michael (Mike) Roach is a retired USMC Colonel. He has commanded at every level (Platoon, Battery, Battalion and Regiment) from Lieutenant to Colonel. A native of Brooklyn New York, he was commissioned in the USMC in May 1996. From 1997-1999 he was assigned to India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in 29 Palms, CA where he served as a Forward Observer, Platoon Commander, and Executive Officer. During this period, he supported Exercise Native Fury in Kuwait and completed a deployment to Okinawa.
Mike reported to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 1999 where he completed two deployments as the Target Information Officer and Assistant Operations Officer, respectively. During this period, he participated in several operations: Humanitarian Assistance Operations in East Timor, Operation Determined Response in Yemen for recovery of the USS Cole, Operation Enduring Freedom in Southwest Asia, and in support of Operation Anaconda & Harpoon in Afghanistan.
He participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom I and assumed command of Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines in Iraq. In December 2003, Battery F deployed with BLT 2/3 in support of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. After he relinquished command of Battery F in July 2004, Mike returned to Iraq with HQ CO 5th Marines to serve as an advisor to Iraqi Security Forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom II from 2004-2005 in Ramadi, Iraq.
Mike served as Inspector Instructor (I&I) for Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines (HIMARS), in Grand Prairie, Texas from 2005-2008. He served as BN I&I for 9 months and participated in Humanitarian Relief Operations in Mississippi and Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. From 2008 to 2009 he attended US Army Command and General Staff College. He was assigned to US Central Command from 2009-2012. During this period, he served as an ops planner and the Aide de Camp to the Deputy Commander.
He successfully commanded 1st Battalion, 12th Marines from 2012-2014. From 2014 to 2015 he attended US Army War College (Distinguished Graduate). After graduation, he served in the Middle East (for one year) as the G35 for 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade during this period he supported combat operations in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
Mike was assigned to the Pentagon from 2016-2019. During this period, he has served as Branch Head for Headquarters USMC and was assigned to the Office of Secretary of Defense (Policy) to serve as a Strategic Plans Advisor. While at the Pentagon he oversaw updates to security at Camp David, led a SECDEF directed interagency task force that improved nuclear weapons security, and was lead for an interagency war game between Dept of State, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense.
As a Colonel he served as the 75th commanding officer of 12th Marine Regiment from 2019-2021 in Okinawa, Japan. During this period he led efforts that increased USMC capability and capacity to operate successfully in a maritime campaign. From June 2021 to June 2022, he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations) for US Marine Forces Central Command. During this period he oversaw the largest non-combatant evacuation in US Marine Corps history.
After 26 years of active service, Michael Roach retired from the USMC and in 2022 was hired to serve as the Director for the Florida Forensic Institute for Research, Security, and Tactics (F1RST).
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University, a Master of Science Degree from Kansas State University, and Master of Arts in National Security from the US Army War College.
