Sergeant Major Lerma was born in Canoga Park, California. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 8 August 1999, attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, CA, and graduated on 5 November 1999. After graduation, Private First Class Lerma reported to Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Pendleton, CA. After MCT, he reported to Fort Knox, KY, where he received the military occupation of 1812, Tank Crewman.
In May 2000, he reported to Company D, 1st Tank Battalion, where he served as a Tank Crewman. He held the Driver, Loader, Gunner, and Tank Commander positions and achieved the ranks of Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant. In November 2001, he deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In January 2003, he deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September 2003, he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps.
In April 2006, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps. He received orders to Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462), Marine Air Group 16 (MAG 16), where he served as an Airframe Mechanic and the Airframes Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (SNCOIC). In April 2008, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In July 2009, he was redeployed to Iraq and subsequently to Afghanistan in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. After his deployment, he reported to Drill Instructor School in San Diego, CA.
In December 2010, he graduated from Drill Instructor School. He was assigned to India Company, where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Chief Drill Instructor, and Company First Sergeant. He was meritoriously promoted to the rank Gunnery Sergeant in January 2014.
In February 2014, he received orders back to the Fleet Marine Force and was assigned to HMH-361, MAG-16, where he served as the SNCOIC of the Airframes shop and the Squadron Gunnery Sergeant. In May 2014, his unit deployed to Okinawa, Japan, where he was assigned as the Squadron Maintenance Control Chief. Soon after returning from deployment, he received orders to MAG-16 HQ Squadron, where he served as the Squadron First Sergeant. While at MAG-16 HQ, he submitted for Assistant Marine Officer Instructor (AMOI) duty and was selected to serve at the United States Naval Academy (USNA).
On May 2016, he reported to the USNA, where he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for 9th Company. Following his selection to First Sergeant in November 2017, he was awarded the military occupational specialty 8999. He was transferred to 2D Marine Division 3RD Battalion 8TH Marines, where he served as the Company 1stSgt for Weapons Company and Kilo Company. In September 2018, his battalion was deployed to Norway in support of Marine Rotational Force Europe. Upon their return, his company was selected to work with the Marine Corps War Fighting Lab on "Project Metropolis." In March 2020, he was transferred to 2d Marine Division "Ace in the Hole," 2d Tank Battalion, and served as the Company First Sergeant for Companies Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Head Quarters and Service.
Upon the divestment of 2d Tank Battalion, he received orders to Okinawa, Japan, 3d Marine Division, 12th Marine Regiment, where he served as the Head Quarters Battery First Sergeant. In May 2022, he was promoted to Sergeant Major and reassigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 4.
In May of 2024 SgtMaj Lerma received orders to his current assignment 1st Battalion 10th Marine Regiment. Sergeant Major Lerma's personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 3 gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 gold stars, and Combat action ribbon.