Major Bird graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2012. He completed Officer Candidates Course 2-13 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in April 2013 before reporting to The Basic School. Graduating from Basic Officer Course 3-13 in November 2013, he reported to Infantry Officer Course. Graduating in March 2014, he reported to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (V24) in Camp Pendleton, California.
Reporting to V24 in April 2014, Second Lieutenant Bird was assigned to Weapons Company as the Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) 2 Platoon Commander. There, he completed the Battalion’s Pre-Deployment Training Program (PTP) before deploying with Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/4 to Okinawa as part of the 31st MEU in November 2014. While postured to support crisis response operations within the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), he executed the Korean Military Exchange Program 15 (KMEP). Promoting to First Lieutenant in April 2015, he re-deployed to Camp Pendleton and was assigned as the Weapons Company Executive Officer. Completing a second PTP, he deployed with BLT 2/4 to the 31st MEU in April 2016. Forward deployed, executed EXERCISE VALIANT SHIELD 16 and PHILIPPINE BI-LATERAL EXERCISE 16 (PHIBLEX). He re-deployed to Camp Pendleton in October 2016.
Reporting to The Basic School in January 2017, First Lieutenant Bird was assigned as the Tactical Planning Package primary instructor. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in March 2017 before being assigned as a staff platoon commander for Fox Company 6-17. In March 2018, Captain Bird was assigned to Infantry Officer Course as a Faculty Instructor where he served as primary instructor for the Mortars, Fire Support, and Marine Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) packages. In June 2020, he graduated from non-resident Expeditionary Warfare School and reported to the United States Army Maneuver Captains Career Course (MCCC). He graduated from MCCC in December 2020.
Captain Bird reported to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines (V16) in January 2021 and assumed command of Company A. While in command, he planned and executed EXERCISE SEA BREEZE 21 in Ukraine and EXERCISE ARCHIPELAGO ENDEAVOR 21 in Sweden. He executed Adversary Force Exercise 3-22 in May 2022 and a Combat Readiness Evaluation in October 2022, certifying alongside V16 as an APEX Battalion. BLT 1/6 and the 26th MEU then conducted an enhanced PTP, certifying as “Special Operations Capable” (SOC) in June 2023. He promoted to Major in March 2023 before deploying with the 26th MEU(SOC) in July 2023 to the Central and European Command AORs as the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Company. There, Alpha Company postured as the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), Mass Casualty (MASSCAS), and platoon/company sized Heli-borne QRF force while also providing maritime security forces and preparing for non-combatant evacuation contingency missions.
Re-deploying in March 2024, Major Bird turned over Alpha Company in April 2024. In May 2024, Major Bird reported to Recruiting Station New York.