Lieutenant Colonel Bess is a native of Washington, D.C. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was
commissioned in May 2006. After completion of The Basic School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Second
Lieutenant Bess was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines where he served as a Platoon Commander, Battery Fire
Direction Officer, and Battery Executive Officer and deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2008. Upon
return, First Lieutenant Bess was transferred to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines where he served as Battalion S-3A. Following
career designation in 2010, First Lieutenant Bess was transferred to Fort Sill, OK as a Gunnery Instructor where he served
until 2013.

In 2014, Captain Bess transferred to 1st Battalion, 10th Marines where he served as Battalion S-3A and Battalion Fire
Direction Officer. In September 2014, Captain Bess assumed command of Battery K, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines. In 2015,
the battery deployed to Okinawa as a part of the Unit Deployment Program. Upon return, Captain Bess served as
Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines.

In 2016, Captain Bess transferred to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit where he served as the MEU Fire Support Officer.
In 2017, Major Bess deployed with the 26th MEU in support of Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Maria relief. In 2018, Major
Bess deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility.

In October 2018, Major Bess transferred to G-39, Fires and Effects Coordination Center, II Marine Expeditionary Force
where he served as the Current Fires Officer until June 2019. In October 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Bess transferred to the
II MEF G-5/9 where he served as Regional Plans Officer and head of the G-5/9 regional plans branch.
Lieutenant Colonel Bess' personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service
Medal, and the Honorable Order of St Barbara Medal. He holds a master's degree from The Maritime Advanced
Warfighting School and is a second-year student at Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Science pursuing
a Master of Arts in Global Security Studies with a Strategic Studies focus.