Lieutenant Colonel Kauffman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999 out of Easton, Pennsylvania. After graduating Recruit Training, Marine Combat Training, and the Enlisted Supply Basic Course, he served with Marine Aircraft Group 49 as a Reservist while attending the University of Delaware.
Upon completion of Officer Candidates School in 2005, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Following The Basic School and the Ground Supply Officer’s Course he served with 1st Battalion, 10th Marines as the Supply Officer, deploying with Task Force Military Police to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
As a Captain, he served with Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion as the Logistics Officer; then 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion as the Supply Officer, deploying with Special Operations Task Force West to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Selected for Career Level Education, he reported to the Army Logistics University to attend the Logistics Captain’s Career Course as a student.
As a Major, he served with Training Command as the Staff Secretary, Plans and Policy Officer, and Future Operations Officer until reporting to Marine Corps Command and Staff College as a student. Following Intermediate Level Education, he served with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command as the Future Operations Officer, deploying in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, he served with Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center as the Director of the Logistics Division, providing material, ammunition, fuel, food service, distribution management, warehousing, billeting, and contracting support to organizations either permanently assigned or temporarily deployed to the Marine Corps’ largest training installation. He assumed command of 1st Maintenance Battalion on 21 June 2023.
Lieutenant Colonel Kauffman is a graduate of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School; Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training; the Army Logistics Captain’s Career Course; and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
Lieutenant Colonel Kauffman’s personal decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal (4th award); the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Navy Commendation Medal (2nd award); and the Navy Achievement Medal (2nd award).