LtCol Verta enlisted as a private in January 2004 for duty as a UH-1N Aircrewman and H-1 Flightline Mechanic, was commissioned as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer in 2008, and was granted Defense Acquisition Corps membership in 2019. Verta holds a bachelor's degree from Penn State and advanced degrees in Procurement & Acquisitions Management, Business Administration, and Military Studies from Webster, Washington State, and Marine Corps Universities. He has completed various vocational specialty, collateral duty, and military education schools at each level including duty as the Commandant’s Fellow at FedEx, Marine Corps Command & Staff College as an Ellis Fellow, and the Air Force Air War College.
Verta served in operational squadron tours with HMLA-775 as a Crew Chief deployed in support of 2d MAW(FWD) during OIF04-06, HMM-265(REIN) as Maintenance & Material Control Officer deployed as the rotary wing ACE of the 11.2 and 12.1 31st MEU deployments, and VMM-265 as Assistant Maintenance Officer from transition to the squadron's certification as fully operationally capable. Verta's intermediate level aviation materiel maintenance activity tours include division officer assignments at MALS-36 & MALS-39, MALS-11 Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, MALS-29 Operations & Executive Officer, and MALS-14 Commanding Officer.
Verta was awarded defense acquisition corps membership while serving as FA-18 & EA-18G Readiness & Sustainment Deputy Assistant Program Manager (Logistics) at PMA-265, Naval Air Systems Command. He also served as the Performance Evaluation Section Head (MMRP-30/MMPB-23) at Headquarters Marine Corps Manpower & Reserve Affairs.
LtCol Verta had the privilege to serve MALS-14 as Commanding Officer from 2024 to 2026 as the squadron sustained MAG-14’s transition in unmanned and fighter attack platforms to support FD2030. The squadron’s rapid transition while fielding detachments, logistics, munitions, and repair capabilities in support of eight combatant commanders’ aviation mission requirements while serving as Logistics Lead for KC-130J, MQ-9A, and AV-8B platforms culminated in the TEAM’s recognition as the Marine Corps’ 2026 ‘MALS of the Year.’