Sergeant Major Gillis was born in May 1983 and hails from Annapolis, Maryland. He entered the Marine Corps in August of 2001 at
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina graduated as a private and attended Marine Combat Training at Camp
Geiger, Jacksonville, North Carolina. In December 2001, after completing combat training, he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola
for training as an Aircrew Survival Equipmentman. Private First Class Gillis reported to his first duty station aboard Marine Corps Air
Station Cherry Point in May of 2002, Private First Class Gillis was assigned to VMA-542 and worked in the Flight Equipment work
center. In January of 2003 Lance Corporal Gillis deployed with VMA-542 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation
Iraqi Freedom I on the USS Bataan. In May of 2004, Lance Corporal Gillis deployed again with VMA-542 in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom II to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. In May of 2005, Corporal Gillis reported to Naval Aviation Depot Cherry Point and
worked as the supply and Flight Equipment NCOIC.
In March of 2008 Sergeant Gillis reported to Drill Instructor School Class 3-08, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South
Carolina. Upon completion of Drill Instructor school he was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion and served as
a Drill Instructor. In October of 2009 Sergeant Gillis transferred to Instructional Training Company, Support Training Battalion where
he served as a Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival until September of 2010. In September 2010 Staff Sergeant Gillis
returned to Bravo Company as a Senior Drill Instructor until September 2011 when he reported to 1st Recruit Training Battalion S-3
until January 2012 and completion of his tour.
In January 2012 Staff Sergeant Gillis reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 31, Marine Corps Air
Station Beaufort. He assumed the billet of Production Control Chief for Work Center 800. In February of 2012, Staff Sergeant Gillis
transferred to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 and assumed the duties of VMFA-122 Flight Equipment SNCOIC, Airframes
Division Chief and Squadron Gunnery Sergeant. Staff Sergeant Gillis deployed in 2013 and 2014 with VMFA-122 in support of the
Unit Deployment Program to Iwakuni, and Okinawa Japan.
In June of 2015 Staff Sergeant Gillis executed a permanent change of station to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa Japan,
and assumed the duties as Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36, Quality Assurance Representative and Advance Skills Management
Fleet Administrator until June of 2016. Due to a tour curtailment Staff Sergeant Gillis executed a permanent change of station to
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California and assumed the duties as VMM-764 Aviation Life Support Systems
Division Chief in July of 2016. In January of 2017, Gunnery Sergeant Gillis served as Aviation Life Support Systems Division Chief,
Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative, and Family Readiness Officer. He deployed with VMM-764 in support of Special
Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa. In December of 2017, Gunnery Sergeant Gillis executed orders to Marine
Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for a second tour as a Drill Instructor. Upon completion of the Course Challenge he was transferred to Charlie Company, First Recruit Training Battalion, where he served as a Senior Drill Instructor and Chief Drill Instructor until assigned to Recruit Training Regiment as the Scheduling Chief.
In December of 2019, Gunnery Sergeant Gillis was selected to the rank of First Sergeant and was later frocked in June of 2020, before
reported to 2d Maintenance Battalion, 2d Marine Logistics Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Headquarters
and Service Company First Sergeant until December 2021, he transferred to Motor Transport Maintenance Company until July 2022.
He received and executed orders to 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, in July 2022, were he served as
Alpha Co First Sergeant. First Sergeant Gillis deployed in July of 2023 aboard the USS Bataan, with Battalion Landing Team 1/6 on
the 26 MEU(SOC). He was selected to Sergeant Major and promoted on 6 January 2025 to assume the duties of the Battalion Sergeant
Major for First Battalion Eighth Marines with the Sixth Marine Regiment where he currently serves.
He served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom one and two as well as Special Marine Air Ground Task Force
Crisis Response Africa, numerous Unit Deployment Programs, most recently with Battalion Landing Team 1/6 on the 26MEU(SOC),
and various detachment training exercises.
Sergeant Major Gillis holds a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies. His personal awards include Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three gold stars in lieu of fourth award).