Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) Steve Bancroft attended the University of Northwestern, Saint Paul in Minnesota, and graduated in 2006 with a degree in History. He commissioned and graduated The Basic School in 2007. After completing the Engineer Officer Course at Marine Corps Engineer School, he was assigned to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division (MARDIV) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
As a Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer, he deployed with Regimental Combat Team 8 for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2009, and with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)—Afghanistan for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2009-2010, where he served in Operation MOSHTARAK.
Assigned a tour of duty in Okinawa from 2010 to 2013, LtCol Bancroft served as Company Commander, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and later served as the Energy and Utilities Officer in-charge, Marine Corps Base Butler, Marine Corps Installation-Pacific. During that tour, LtCol Bancroft deployed in support of various theater security cooperation exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific area of operations to include support to Operation TOMODACHI in 2011.
In July 2013, LtCol Bancroft reported to U.S. Army Engineer Captains Career Course in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon graduation, LtCol Bancroft served a second tour of duty in Okinawa from 2014 to 2018, where he served as the Brigade Engineer Officer and G-4 Future Operations Officer, 3d MEB, III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF); Assistant Operations Officer and Regimental Operations Officer, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3d Marine Logistics Group (MLG); and Battalion Operations Officer, 3d Combat Assault Battalion, 3d MARDIV. During that tour, LtCol Bancroft planned, supported, and deployed on various theater security cooperation exercises, Joint Task Force-505 for Operation SAHAYOGI HAAT in 2015, and with U.S. Indo-PACOM’s Command and Control Element—Philippines in 2016.
From 2018 to 2021, LtCol Bancroft served as the Aviation Ground Support Department Head, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One where he oversaw the training and education of Weapons and Tactics Instructors, served as the Marine Corps’ aviation ground support doctrine writer, and supported aviation fleet training in various locations worldwide.
In July 2021, LtCol Bancroft reported to U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After graduation, LtCol Bancroft served a third tour of duty in Okinawa from 2022 to 2024, where he served as the G-3 Future Operations Officer, Assistant Chief of Staff (AC/S) Deputy G-3, and AC/S G-3 Operations Officer, 3d MEB, III MEF. During that tour, LtCol Bancroft supported III MEF’s and U.S. SEVENTH FLEET’s naval campaign of learning and experimentation between 3d MEB and Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN, to form the integrated naval command, Task Force-76/3, where he served as AC/S L(littoral)-5 Future Operations / Plans Officer.
LtCol Bancroft is a graduate of Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School (DEP) and Command and Staff College (DEP), and holds a Master of Operational Studies from the U.S. Army CGSC. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one Gold Star, Joint Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars, the Combat Action Ribbon with one Gold Star, and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency in Gold.