Colonel (Ret.) Daniel W. Elzie is the Deputy Commander, Marine Force Storage Command, Marine Corps Logistics Command. From 2012 to 2016 he served as the Deputy G-3/5 for MARCORLOGCOM.
His first assignment was to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, CA where he served as a platoon commander and company executive officer from 1986 to 1988. From 1988 through 1990, he served as Minefield Maintenance Officer in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; he then attended the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.
In 1991 he deployed to Saudi Arabia as Engineer Detachment Commander, Combat Service Support Element, Southwest Asia. Upon his return he took command of Company B, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune, NC, were his company supported relief efforts in south Florida in the wake of Hurricane Andrew.
In 1993 he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as an action officer in the Plans, Policies and Operations Department. He subsequently served as Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. In 1996 he was reassigned to head up the Marine Corps Lessons Learned Branch, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, VA. In 1997 he transferred to serve as the Facilities Maintenance Officer, Marine Corps Base Hawaii. In 1999 he was detailed to serve as the US Naval Forces Central Command, Humanitarian Demining Officer for the country of Yemen.
In 2000, he was assigned as Head, Exercises Branch, Directorate of Logistics (J-4), U.S. Central Command at Tampa, Florida. Immediately after the attacks on 9/11 he was re-assigned as Branch Chief, Special Operations Forces Logistics during the combat phase of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. He was then seconded by the Plans and Policy Directorate (J-5) to deploy to Kabul as the lead logistics officer to create the Afghan National Army. In 2003, he reported to MCRD Parris Island for duty as the Executive Officer, Recruit Training Regiment.
In 2005, he assumed command of 8th Engineer Support Battalion while they were deployed in Iraq, providing general engineering and Explosive Ordnance Disposal support to II MEF during the duration of the deployment.
In 2007, he assumed command of Marine Wing Support Group – 37. During this tour his command deployed to Iraq, providing aviation ground support and base security at Al Asad and the Al Anbar Province.
In 2009, he was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics for Marine Corps Forces Central Command. During this tour he provided joint operational level logistics support to Marine Expeditionary Forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Col Elzie retired from the Marine Corps in August 2012.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Oregon State College and he holds two Master’s degrees (Troy University, 1990 and Army War College, 2007).
Colonel (Ret.) Elzie’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, The Legion of Merit (two), the Bronze Star Medal (two), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five).