Modern Day Marine 2026 Exhibitor List

Colonel Ryan S. Murata is currently serving as the Director, Office of Marine Corps Reserve. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in 1992 as a reconnaissance man and finished his enlisted tenure as a reconnaissance platoon sergeant. In 2000 he received his commission in the U.S. Marine Corps and was designated an infantry officer with follow-on designations as an expeditionary ground reconnaissance officer, foreign security force advisor, information operations officer, and FDP&E officer. He has deployed in support of operations as a commander or officer in charge to the USINDOPACOM AOR, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Royal Bahamas, and Mexico. Staff assignments include Integration Cell Director, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy; Operations Officer, Office of Marine Forces Reserve; Operations-Intelligence Coordination Officer, Regimental Combat Team One; Operations Officer, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion; and Mobilization and FDP&E Section head, PP&O.  Colonel Murata has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science in Management and Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.  He is married to his wife Jennifer and has three children; Ryan, Evelyn, and Aiden.

Mr. Melkonian has over 20 years of federal service spanning program management and systems engineering, and has served in leadership positions on complex acquisition and sustainment programs for the Navy and Marine Corps including joint programs with the Army and Air Force. He is currently the Program Manager for the USMC’s Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA). Prior to this assignment he served as the Deputy Program Manager for In-Service Attack Submarines at PEO. He worked alongside the Program Manager to lead and integrate all aspects of lifecycle management for in-service LOS ANGELES, SEAWOLF, and VIRGINIA Class Attack Submarines. Prior to a recent Team Submarine realignment, Mr. Melkonian also managed OHIO Class SSBN/GN sustainment and modernization, and submarine inactivations. Mr. Melkonian served as the Chief Engineer and then Deputy Program Manager for PMW 230, which comprises a portfolio of logistics IT including the Business Category Global Combat Support System–Marine Corps program supporting worldwide USMC operations. He led organizational change to shift the IT culture to a system of systems mindset leveraging the latest in DEVSECOPs and agile development to quicken capability delivery. He received the MCSC award for Excellence in Marine Air-Ground Task Force Engineering in 2015 for his numerous contributions. He was the Engineering Division Head for Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) where he was responsible for leading all aspects of systems engineering policy, additive manufacturing, IT portfolio modernization, independent technical risk assessments, and obsolescence management for MCSC and affiliated Program Executive Offices. In 2009, he conducted a rotation at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition while attending the Executive Potential Program. He prepared congressional testimony, worked with Program Managers to prepare for Gate reviews, and led a team to develop modernization strategies for command and control aboard aircraft carriers and surface ships. Mr. Melkonian served in several leadership positions at the PM AAA program office including Director of Systems Engineering. He was responsible for managing development, testing, and transition to production activities for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Acquisition Category (ACAT I), and subsequently the Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Marine Personnel Carrier ACAT I, and Amphibious Combat Vehicle ACAT I programs. Mr. Melkonian holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University, and a Master of Science Degree in Executive Systems Engineering Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University’s Executive Program Manager Course and the Graduate School’s Executive Potential Program. Mr. Melkonian is the recipient of the Navy Superior Civilian Service award.

Major Metcalf is from Pittsburgh, PA and enlisted in the US Navy in June of 2006. Upon completion of boot camp and “A” School, he reported into Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Seven (NMCB 7) for duty as a construction mechanic. With NMCB 7, he was deployed to Camp Shields, Okinawa; Camp Ramadi, Iraq; and Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. After being honorably discharged in April of 2010, he returned to Pittsburgh, PA and soon applied for USMC OfficerCandidate School (OCS). Upon completion of OCS, Major Metcalf went on to the Basic Officer Course and then the Financial Management Officer Course (FMOC) which he completed in October of 2012.After completing FMOC, Major Metcalf reported to the Quantico Finance Office where he was assigned as the OIC of the Military Pay Section and later as the OIC of the Military Travel Section. In August of 2014, Major Metcalf was selected to serve as Aide-de-Camp to theDeputy Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Major General O’Donnell. He served as Aide-de-Camp until Major General O’Donnell’s retirement in July of 2015.In August of 2015, Major Metcalf reported to MCRD Parris Island. Major Metcalf was assigned as a Series Commander in A Company, 1ST Recruit Training Battalion. He later served as the Executive Officer of D Company and then Company Commander of C Company. He finished his tour as the Support Battalion S-4.Major Metcalf was assigned to the Comptroller Section of Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command in May of 2018. He served as the Budget Operations Officer until he deployed in October of 2018 with Special Operations Joint Task Force - Operation InherentResolve (SOJTF-OIR). While deployed, Major Metcalf served as the Deputy J-8 and the CTEF Budget Officer for SOJTF-OIR. After returning from deployment in April 2019, Major Metcalf was assigned to the Marine Raider Regiment (MRR). He served as the MRR Comptroller until the completion of his assignment in May 2021. Major Metcalf was selected on the Commandant’s Professional Intermediate-Level Education Board (CPIB) to attend the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and study Information Systems and Technology.Upon completion of his studies at NPS, Major Metcalf reported to MARCORSYSCOM where he was assigned to the Program Executive Office for Digital and Enterprise Services (PEO Digital). During his time at PEO Digital, Major Metcalf led a cross-functional Agile Release Train (ART) for IT infrastructure modernization and was instrumental in standing up a solution train to accelerate capability delivery across the program office. Major Metcalf holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Lycoming College; a Master of Business Administration Degree in Project Management from South University; and a Master of Science degree in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. His decorations include the Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Navy Good Conduct Medal as well as various campaign and unit awards. Major Metcalf and his wife Aileen have been married for 13 years. They have a daughter Rosemary (9) and sons Jonathan (7) and Brendan (5). The Metcalf family currently resides in Stafford, Virginia.

Lieutenant General Len “Loni” Anderson was commissioned in 1993 upon graduation from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He was designated a naval aviator in October of 1995 and selected to fly the F/A-18 Hornet. Lieutenant General Anderson's previous assignments as a General Officer include Assistant Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies & Operations, Commanding General, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command and Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force-ARES. Assignments in the Operating Forces include: Schedules Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, Air Wing Landing Signal Officer, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor with the “Fabulous Checkerboards” of VMFA-312 while deployed on USS Enterprise and USS Truman during Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, DESERT FOX and DELIBERATE FORGE; and Training Officer, MAG-31. In 2006, he transferred to the Marine Forces Reserve where he has served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Marine Aviation Training Support Group-42; Operations Officer, VMFA-112; and Commanding Officer, MALS-41. Assignments in the Supporting Establishment include: Demonstration Pilot, Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron; Flight Instructor, VT-86; Operations Officer, Marine Aviation Training Support Group-42. Headquarters and Staff Assignments: Senior Reserve Advisor, MAG-41; Reserve Branch Head, HQMC Aviation; Assistant Wing Commander, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. Joint assignments include two deployments in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE as the Deputy Director, Combined Joint Operations Center-Baghdad, Iraq and Battle Director, 609th Combined Air Operations Center, Qatar. Lieutenant General Anderson is a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), Command and Staff College (DEP), Air War College (DEP), Advanced Joint PME, Senior Joint Information Operations Application Course, Harvard Kennedy School's Cybersecurity: The Intersection of Policy and Technology, Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Leadership at the Peak, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs National Security Management Course, U.S. Naval War College Advanced Flag and Senior Executive Course, and Johns Hopkins University Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations: For Senior Leaders. He was promoted to his current rank and assumed duties as Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South on 21 March 2024.

Colonel Robert Hurst graduated from the Naval Academy in May 2002. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Following The Basic School, 2ndLt Hurst commenced Aviation Preflight Indoctrination in May 2003 at NAS Pensacola, moving to NAS Whiting Field to complete primary flight training. 1stLt Hurst was selected for prop training in November 2003 and after several intermediary training stops, 1stLt Hurst joined his first fleet squadron, VMGR-252, at MCAS Cherry Point, NC, in January 2005. While at VMGR-252, Captain Hurst deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February-September 2006 and January-July 2008. During October 2008, Captain Hurst was transferred to 2d Tank Battalion at Camp Lejeune, NC to serve as a Forward Air Controller, H&S Company Commander for 2d Tank Battalion, as well as 2d Tank Battalion Executive Officer for three months. October 2009, Captain Hurst returned to VMGR-252 where he gained all of the qualifications necessary to attend WTI, however in September 2010, Captain Hurst was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and graduated second in Class 140. He served with VX-20 from January 2012 – December 2014 as the K/C-130 project officer and platform coordinator. In December 2014, Major Hurst returned to USNTPS as a fixed wing flight test instructor in both the C-12R, and the T-6B. Major Hurst was selected for the FY16 Commandant’s Professional Intermediate-Level Education board, and then ultimately selected to represent the Marine Corps at the Joint Command and Staff Program in Canada from 2016-2017. In Jan 2017, Major Hurst was selected to be an Acquisition Officer, and slated to move to PMA-207 to assume the role of Deputy Program Manager of the C/KC-130 team. In July 2020, LtCol Hurst was selected to be the PEO(A) Chief of Staff, and in August 2021, LtCol Hurst was selected for the MV-22B, V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275), as the DPM for MV-22. December 2021, LtCol Hurst was selected for Top Level School and assigned to the Secretary of Defense Fellowship program with Textron Systems in Cockeysville, MD, and after a short time as the MAD XO, Col Hurst assumed the duties in April 2024 of Military Assistant to ASN(RDA). In June 2024, Col Hurst was selected to be the Program Manager of PMA-275, his current assignment. Col Hurst has over 2,600 flight hours in 22 models of jet, prop and rotary wing aircraft. His personal decorations include an Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral “8”, the Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), and a Humanitarian Service Medal.

Chaplain Cash will present on Classical Character and discuss the recently sent to TECOM Character publication. He will also want to discuss the need for more Chaplains to serve the USMC and the life assimilation process.