Marada was born in the jungle of Cambodia.

 

He spent his early childhood in Cambodia during its collapse under Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime, in which 3 million Khmer people lost their lives.  After he and his family escaped from the concentration camp, they fled to Thailand. His family came to America as war refugees and settled in Boston, MA.  He went through the Boston Public School system. 

 

In 2002, he graduated from Officer Candidate School and was assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Okinawa, Japan.  He deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and was assigned to Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC).  

 

He completed Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) as a Captain and returned to III MEF Okinawa, Japan to serve as a Company Commander.  He graduated from the first Blended Command and Staff College in Okinawa.  He participated in various exercises and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations across the Pacific.  

 

Major:

- 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) 

- III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) 

- Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS)
- The Basic School 

 

His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

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Edited, 10 Dec 2020

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