Sergeant Major Carlson is a native of Walla Walla, Washington. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 5, 2005, attended recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He graduated with Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion in October 2005. Sergeant Major Carlson then attended Marine Combat Training at SOI West Camp Pendleton, California, and reported to military occupational school at the Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Maryland, to become a Combat Correspondent in November. He was promoted to Private First Class in January 2006 and graduated in May, 2006. Upon graduation, Sergeant Major Carlson reported to the Eastern Recruiting Region Public Affairs Office, MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina for his first tour as a Combat Correspondent.
While serving aboard Parris Island, Sergeant Major Carlson was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in September of 2006. Sergeant Major Carlson executed a permanent change of assignment to Headquarters, 6th Marine Corps District in March, 2007.
In June 2008, Sergeant Major Carlson was promoted to the rank of Corporal in October, 2008. He then conducted a PCS to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, in January 2009.
In August of 2010 Sergeant Major Carlson attended the NORSAT advanced systems repair course in British Columbia to certify as an advanced satellite systems repair technician prior to deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in October, 2010. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant while deployed in December 2010.
In January 2012 Sergeant Major Carlson received orders to Recruiters School, MCRD California. Upon graduation, He reported to Recruiting Station Houston as a canvasing recruiter and was made Assistant SNCOIC for Recruiting Substation Humble, Texas. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in February, 2015.
In March 2015, Sergeant Major Carlson reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, as the Public Affairs Chief for Marine Corps Installations Pacific. He attended the Marine Corps Intermediate Expeditionary Information Operations Course, in 2016, earning the MOS 0551, Information Operations Specialist. In both 2016, and 2017, Sergeant Major Carlson traveled to Nepal, to provide instruction to the Nepali Army's Intermediate Public Affairs Officer Course during a subject matter expert exchange. Sergeant Major Carlson was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in February, 2018.
In May, 2018, Sergeant Major Carlson received orders to III Marine Information Group COMMSTRAT Company, as the Senior Enlisted Advisor, and COMMSTRAT Chief. The Company was officially activated and certified Initially Operationally Capable in December 2018, and Sergeant Major Carlson received orders to Yokota Air Base, where he served as the Public Affairs Chief for Headquarters, US Forces Japan.
In April, 2021, Sergeant Major Carlson received orders to Camp Kinser, Okinawa Japan, to serve as the 3d Marine Logistics Group COMMSTRAT Chief. He was subsequently selected for the rank of First Sergeant and frocked to the appropriate rank in December, 2021 in addition to receiving orders to 9th Engineer Support Battalion where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Companies B, EOD, and H&S.
In December, 2025, Sergeant Major Carlson executed orders to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion where he served as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for Engineer Company A. He was subsequently selected for the rank of Sergeant Major and frocked to the appropriate rank in January, 2026 in addition to receiving orders to VMA-223.
Sergeant Major Carlson's personal awards include the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of 2nd award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 3 gold stars in lieu of 4th award, and the Armed Forces Service Medal.