Lieutenant Colonel Mays graduated in 2000 from the University of North Texas, with a Bachelor of Arts and Applied Science. He attended Officer
Candidate School in the summer of 2001 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August.
Following the Basic School and the Logistics Officer Course, he reported to 2nd Transportation Support Battalion in the summer of 2002 and was assigned
to Alpha Company. He deployed in support of OIF I and OIF II serving as a Motor Transport Platoon Commander and Landing Support Platoon Commander, in
2003 and 2004.
1st Lieutenant Mays reported for recruiting duty with the 6th District, RS Montgomery, Officer Selection Officer Tuscaloosa in May 2005. In May 2008,
Captain Mays reported to Marine Corps Recruiting Command in Quantico, Virginia as a Special Projects Officer for MCRC, G-3, Head of Officer
Programs. He completed duty with MCRC in July 2008 and reported to Expeditionary Warfare School graduating in May 2009.
Captain Mays reported to 5th Marine Regiment in May 2009 serving concurrently as the Regimental Assistant Logistics Officer and Motor
Transport Officer. In December 2009, he reported to 3d Battalion, 5th Marines "Get Some" as the Battalion Logistics Officer, deploying to Sangin,
Afghanistan in support of OEF 10-2. Captain Mays served as the Region Assistant for Officer Procurement, G-3,
Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region from August 2011 until June 2013. Selected for resident Professional Military Education, Major
Mays reported to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for US Army Command and General Staff College, simultaneously completing a Master's Degree in Military Art &
Science (MMAS), in June 2014.
Major Mays reported in July 2014 to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Air Control Group-38 serving as the Headquarters Detachment Commander, the Group
Logistics Officer, Group Supply Officer, and Group Fiscal Officer. During this tour, Major Mays also deployed in support of the Department of State
with the United Nations, serving as the Force Headquarters J-4 Operations Officer in support of 11,000 troops conducting Multi-National Peacekeeping
Operations in the Central African Republic.
Major Mays reported to U.S. CENTCOM in June 2017 and served as the J-3 Current Operations, Plans Integration Branch Deputy and Chief, also
completing JPME Phase II Joint and Combined Warfighting School in the fall of 2017. Next, Lieutenant Colonel Mays served as the U.S. CENTCOM J-3
Current Operations, Deputy Division Chief from June 2018 to April 2019. Lieutenant Colonel Mays completed his tour at U.S. CENTCOM in December 2019
after eight months on the Commander's Action Group.
Lieutenant Colonel Mays is married to the former Whitney Lee of Pensacola Florida. They have four sons William, Matthew, Mark, and Michael. William
and Matthew serve on active duty with 5th Marines. Lieutenant Colonel Mays' personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the
Joint Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 gold stars), the Joint Service Achievement Medal (1 oak leaf), and the Navy
and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.