Biography

SERGEANT MAJOR JUSTIN PARK
Recruiting Station Albany

Sergeant Major Park graduated from boot camp at Parris Island, SC, on October 3, 2003, and after graduating from MCT and MOS school at Fort Belvoir, VA, with MOS 4612, he received orders to Camp Smith, HI.  Within a few months of arrival, he cross-trained and developed in many other aspects of the 4600 field, including photography and videography.  He was deployed with I Marine Expeditionary Force to Fallujah, Iraq in July 2004 and went on numerous convoys and patrols to provide photo and video documentation, as well as graphics products in support of Information Operations.

On July 2, 2005, Sergeant Major Park was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and attended Corporal's Course in October 2005. In February 2006, he attended BALIKATAN 06 training in the Philippines where he volunteered to go south to the Leyte Province and assist in relief efforts after a mudslide in Guinsaugon took the lives of 1,126 civilians.  He was able to provide the most downloaded imagery in the DOD for the month of February while digging for recovery efforts, helping to deliver supplies to local hospitals, and food and water to survivors.

On August 2, 2006, Sergeant Major Park was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  After attending Sergeant's Course on Kaneohe Bay, he assumed duties as the Platoon Sergeant for the Combat Camera unit.

In March 2007, Sergeant Major Park received orders to Marine Forces Reserve, New Orleans where he would serve as the Platoon Sergeant for the Combat Camera section providing support to reserve units from all over the United States. He attended PARTNERSHIP OF THE AMERICAS 07, a multi-nation exercise, where he would document and take part in all of the 24th Marine Regiment's training exercises alongside partner nations on-and-off shore in Peru and Chile. After returning, Sergeant Major Park attended the Digital Multimedia Course, Ft Meade, MD. The next year he deployed for AFRICAN LION 08, where he would provide award-winning photography of training operations, including the Leatherneck photo of the year.
         
In September 2009, Sergeant Major Park graduated from Drill Instructor School in San Diego, CA.  He would become a member of Fox Company, where he would do six green belt cycles, then become a Senior Drill Instructor as a Sergeant and do two more cycles.  While on this tour of duty, he received his black belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts program, won two DI of the quarter boards, was a part of two honor platoons, two band of brothers teams, and the moral leader award recipient on his last cycle as a Senior Drill Instructor, voted on by his peers.  
         
On November 1, 2011, Sergeant Major Park was promoted to Staff Sergeant.  He graduated Career Course at Camp Pendleton in September 2012.  For his final three months as a Drill Instructor, he served as the MCRD scheduling officer. In November, Sergeant Major  received orders to Marine Barracks Washington, 8th and I where he served as the Production SNCOIC, and was selected as a ceremonial marcher and drill instructor 2 years in a row. On January 1, 2015, he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and relocated to HQMC Combat Camera, serving as the Action Officer, Operations Chief, graduating as the guide from Advanced Course, attending Visual Information Managers Course, Combat Camera Leadership Course, and the Information Operation Manager's Course.  

In July 2015, Sergeant Major Park received orders to Marine Corps Activity Guam. There he served as the Public Affairs Chief for the Marine Corps buildup on the island. During this time, he would coordinate strategic communication efforts, facilitate training through exercises including VALIANT SHIELD and FORAGER FURY, and make numerous trips to the islands of Saipan and Tinian in support of training and public affairs-related events. After selection and attendance at First Sergeant Course in Quantico, Sergeant Major Park received orders to Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 45 in Savannah, GA, where he served as the Inspector-Instructor First Sergeant from April 2018-July 2021. During this time, the unit was heavily-involved in the community through interaction with the Marine Corps League and other local organizations.

In July 2021, he received orders to Headquarters and Tactical Air Command Center Company, Marine Air Control Group-18. The unit underwent reconstruction into a new command structure during this time. They received recognition for multiple exercises while maintaining an intense operational tempo full of monthly local exercises as well as those on South Korea and Guam. After selection to his current rank in October 2022, he received orders to Albany, NY, to serve as the Recruiting Station Sergeant Major.
         
Sergeant Major Park married the former Laura Register on November 10, 2005, and they have two children, Lucas and Madelyn. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and graduated with distinction with a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty University. He holds a Resilience Building Leadership Professional-Trainer (RBLP-T) certification and is a Naval Senior Enlisted Academy Dean's List graduate. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Drill Instructor Ribbon.