LtCol Rea graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Upon graduation he commissioned into the United States Marine Corps.
After graduation from the Basic Officer Course and the Air Support Control Officer Course, 2ndLt Rea and his wife Jennifer Rea moved to Okinawa, Japan in July of 2009. 2ndLt Rea was assigned to Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
From 2009 to 2014 he served as a Platoon Commander, Assistant Operations Officer, Communications and Electronics Company Executive Officer, and the Headquarters and Service Company Commander for MASS-2. From Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, he led aviation C2 detachments across USINDOPACOM in support of III MEF operations and activities.
In 2011 1stLt Rea led an air traffic control detachment to Matsushima Air Field, a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force base in Honshu in support of Operation Tomodachi, the US military’s response to the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent reactor failures at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In 2012 Captain Rea led the Air Support Element assigned to the 31st MEU, providing an aviation C2 capability to Marine Corps and host nation air and ground forces in unilateral and bilateral training exercises across USINDOPACOM.
In 2013 Captain Rea graduated from the MAWTS-1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, earning the WTI qualification with a Command, Control, and Communications emphasis.
In Feb/Mar 2014 Captain Rea led a MASS-2 Detachment to Osan, South Korea in support of III Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise 14, establishing a DASC on Osan as well as subordinate aviation C2 capabilities across the peninsula. In Spring 2014 he again joined the 31st MEU, leading the MACG-18 aviation C2 detachment.
From 2014 to 2017 Captain Rea served as the Company Commander and Operations Officer for the Wounded Warrior Detachment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Captain Rea graduated from resident Expeditionary Warfare School in May of 2018.
From May 2018 to June 2020, Maj Rea served as an Observer, Trainer, Collector and Aviation C2 SME for the MAGTF Staff Training Program in Quantico, VA. Pursuant to this assignment, Maj Rea traveled to MEB and MEF Command Elements and Marine Corps Service Component Commands in support of the exercise objectives and training goals of each training audience.
Maj Rea graduated from the School of Advanced Warfighting in June 2021 and received orders to 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
At 2d MEB, Maj Rea served as a a future operations planner and was the lead planner for the Commander, Landing Force during Cold Response 22 with tactical control of three subordinate NATO Amphibious Task Groups. He planned and coordinated the execution of 17 amphibious landings in 11 days in the Norwegian littorals.
From May 2022 to November 2023, Maj Rea served as both the lead planner and future operations officer for TF 61/2, the Marine Corps crisis response headquarters in SIXTH Fleet. Maj Rea planned TF 61/2's support to NAVEUR's humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts for the February 2023 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkiye. In July 2023 he planned TF 61/2's support to NAVEUR's foreign humanitarian aid operation for the wildfires in Greece. Additionally, Maj Rea planned and coordinated the employment of both the Kearsarge ARG / 22d MEU and the Bataan ARG / 26th MEU (SOC) during their respective EUCOM patrols.
From November of 2023 to July 2024, LtCol Rea served as an operational planner in the II MEF G-5/9 directorate. In Feb/Mar 2024 he served as a liaison officer to JFC NORFOLK on behalf of the II MEF Commanding General during Nordic Response 24. He also led the II MEF TF 61/2 long-term planning effort.
From July 2024 to July 2025, LtCol Rea currently served as the Operations Officer for the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force at NSF Indian Head, MD. In this capacity LtCol Rea planned, coordinated, and directed CBIRF's support to federal agencies such as USSS and USCP for the protection of presidential candidates, the state funeral of former President Carter, and the 60th Presidential Inauguration.
In July 2025, LtCol Rea executed orders to MASS-1, Marine Air Control Group 28, 2D Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, North Carolina as the Commanding Officer.
LtCol Rea’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star, and the Nav and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.