Lieutenant Colonel Mariela Pena, originally from Managua, Nicaragua, enlisted into the Selected Marine Corps Reserves in October, 1996 from her adopted home in Antioch, California. Private First Class Pena graduated from 4th Recruit Training Battalion in January 1997 and was assigned as a Supply Clerk to 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion in Hayward, California.
In May 1999, Lance Corporal Pena was transferred to Headquarters Company, 23rd Marines, and assigned as Regimental Career Planner. In 2003, Sergeant Pena redesigned as a landing support specialist and deployed to Iraq while assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 8, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon her return, Staff Sergeant Pena transferred to Echo Co, 23rd Marines in San Bruno, CA and served as Logistics Chief. Staff Sergeant Pena commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Selected Marine Corps Reserves after completing of Officer’s Candidate School in May 2008.
Second Lieutenant Pena graduated from The Basic Officer Course in May 2009 and reported to Logistics Operations School in North Carolina. She remained on active duty and served as a Platoon Commander for Beach and Terminal Operations Company A, 4th Transportation Support Battalion in San Jose, CA through September 2011. In September 2011, First Lieutenant Pena deployed to Afghanistan while assigned Marine Air-Ground Task Force Support Battalion as a Motor Transport Platoon Commander, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 11-2. In July 2012, First Lieutenant Pena transferred to the Active Reserve Component and was assigned as the Logistics Officer for 1st Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, where she deployed to Belize in 2013 as Detachment Officer-In-Charge.
In July 2015, Captain Pena was assigned to III MEF Headquarters where she served as the Reserve Liaison Officer and Korea Logistics Planner. Captain Pena was augmented to the active component in January 2017 was assigned to 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment as the Battalion Logistics Officer where she deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program. During the deployment, she served as MAGTF S-4 aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard while forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific. In June 2018, Major Pena was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 24 where she served as the Group Logistics Officer and deployed with MAG-24 to Korea. Major Pena reported to 1st Marine Logistics Group to serve as the Plans Officer-in-Charge. In July 2022, Major Pena was transferred to the Commandant’s Office of Net Assessment in Washington, DC as a Strategic Analyst. LtCol Pena was transferred to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command as a Strategic Planner in December 2024. In July 2025, was transferred to her current assignment as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 for Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region.
Lieutenant Colonel Pena’s civilian profession prior to augmenting on Active Duty was as a City Planner for the City of Oakley, California. She is a graduate of the resident Expeditionary Warfare School and the School of Advanced Warfighting. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, a Master’s Degree in Operational Art from the Marine Corps University and a Master’s Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University. She is pursuing a Doctorate in Statecraft and National Security from the Institute of World Policy in Washington, DC.
Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Starts in Lieu of Third Award, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars in Lieu of Fourth Award, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star in Lieu of Second Award, the Korean Service Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.