US Marine Corps
David Monroe enlisted in the Marine Corps 11 January 1982 at the age of 17. Graduating from 3rd Battalion, Parris Island 14 August 1982 he was assigned to Landing Support Battalion, Charleston Naval Base and subsequently Long Lines Company, Brooklyn, New York as a multi-channel radio operator. Completing two, six-week sessions of Officer Candidate School in 1984 and 1985, David was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation from Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. Upon completion of The Basic School in 1986, David attended the Infantry Officer Course and was then assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines as a Rifle Platoon Commander.
From 1987 through 1992 David served twice as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Target Information Officer, Detachment Executive Officer, TOW Missile Platoon Commander, and TOW Company Executive Officer. He completed two deployments with the 22nd MEU and one with MarDet UNITAS. Departing active-duty February of 1992, Captain Monroe then joined the Full Time Support (later transitioned to Active Reserve) Program in August. He spent five years at the School of Infantry as a Company Commander, Legal Officer and Battalion Executive Officer. Duty with Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune was spent as the Base Mobilization Plans and Destructive Weather Officer.
Reserves & Diplomatic Security
Leaving the Active Reserve Program for the Individual Ready Reserve, then Major Monroe joined Diplomatic Security (DS) 1 February 1999. He joined the Secretary of State’s Protective Detail and protected Madeline Albright and Colin Powell until late 2001 when he returned to active duty after 9/11. Returning to DS in 2003, he served as an Assistant, Regional Security Officer in Pristina, Kosovo and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In 2004 he was assigned to the New Orleans Resident Office as a Criminal Investigator and joined the 4th Marine Division completing deployments to Okinawa and Korea. David spent his final 18 months in New Orleans dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.​
John K. and David Monroe in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Active Duty & Diplomatic Security
​​After a DS assignment to the Naval War College in 2007, David decided to return to active duty and spent the next four years with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. His assignments included deployment as the Future Operations Officer and a second deployment as the only reserve officer to assume the Executive Officer billet. During those four years and three deployments, David supported the MEU at 5th Fleet in Bahrain, represented the MEU at 4th Fleet during the Haiti Earthquake of 2010, and deployed aboard the USS Bataan during the Arab Spring. This remains the second longest deployment since the end of World War 2. After his active duty, David was promoted to Colonel and moved to the reserve. David retired from the Marine Corps on 1 June 2016 while supporting the History Division.
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David rejoined DS in 2012, serving as the JTTF liaison between the FBI and Department of State during the Benghazi Investigation. After the JTTF assignment, David oversaw the Tactical Operations Center in Baghdad (2014-2015), served as a case agent in Greensboro, NC (2015-2017), and was the Resident Agent-in-Charge (2017-2019). His final assignment with DS was Branch Chief for the Advanced Tactics, Leadership, and Skills (ATLaS) Program, Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (2019-2021).
Post "Retirement"
David has been married to his wife Scarlet (a retired Marine Corps Major and civil servant) for 30 years and they reside in Cape Carteret, North Carolina.
Since retirement David has enjoyed all water-oriented activities, including kayaking, fishing, swimming, and boating. He holds a Merchant Mariner Credential, 25-Ton Captain License, is a past Post Commander, VFW Post 9960 (2021-2022), and current President of the Marine Corps Mustang Association since May 2023. Elected in November 20-25, David currently serves as the Chairman of the National Marine Corps Council, an information conduit for Headquarters, Marine Corps to all Marine Veteran organizations and affiliates.
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From August 2023 – November 2024, David again served as a Special Agent (Rehired Annuitant) with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. This specified assignment included close protection of two retired, 4-star generals due to persistent threats from a hostile, overseas nation.