Lieutenant Colonel Monte is a proud first generation American, whose family emigrated to the United States to flee from Communist Romania. Born in Fresno, California, but grew up in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After commissioning in August 2006, Second Lieutenant Monte reported to The Basic School (TBS). Following TBS in March 2007, he attended Aircraft Maintenance Officer School at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, Florida.
In June 2007, he reported to the “Patriots” of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River to serve as the Ground Support Equipment and Individual Material Readiness List Officer in Charge. In August 2008, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and reported to the “Raging Bulls” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 to serve as the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer (AAMO). In November 2009, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 9.2 and 10.1—the first MV-22 Osprey deployment to Afghanistan.
In September 2010, First Lieutenant Monte reported to Third Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, South Carolina, to serve as a Series Commander with Mike Company. In November 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. In August 2011, he became the Mike Company Executive Officer. In March 2012, Captain Monte assumed command of Lima Company, where he served as the Company Commander until relinquishing command in May 2013 following his selection from the 2013 Commandant’s Career Level Education Board to attend Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS). In July 2013, Captain Monte reported to EWS, Marine Corps University, as a student for the 2013-2014 academic year.
In May 2014, Captain Monte graduated EWS and reported to the “Warlords” of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. During his tenure with the “Warlords”, he held nearly every billet in the Maintenance Department by serving as: AAMO, Quality Assurance Officer (QAO), Maintenance Material Control Officer, Aviation Logistics Information Management and Support (ALIMS) Officer, and Powerline Officer. In each billet, he helped direct the maintenance effort on 29 assigned F-35B aircraft by 445 maintenance personnel—including Marines, Royal Air Force/Royal Navy personnel, and Lockheed Martin Interim Contractor Support. From May to June 2015, he served as the QAO during the first operational at-sea deployment for the F-35B aboard an L-Class Ship on the USS WASP with Operational Test One (OT-1). From June to July 2016, he was the Detachment Maintenance Officer for the first overseas deployment and transatlantic crossing of the F-35B to the United Kingdom in support of the 2016 Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough International Airshow. In September 2016, he was promoted to Major.
Upon his selection from the 2017 Commandant’s Professional Intermediate Level Education Board, Major Monte reported to the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs in September 2017. In January 2018, Major Monte was assigned to the office of Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), member on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), where he served the Senator as his Defense Legislative Fellow.
In January 2019, Major Monte reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, Department of Aviation, and served as Aide de Camp for Lieutenant General Rudder, the Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DC/A), until the end of his tenure as DC/A in July 2020.
In August 2020, Major Monte reported to the “Warriors” of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24 aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and served as the Operations and Executive Officer. In May 2022, Major Monte reported to Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23 to serve as the Operations Officer. In July 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Monte was promoted to his current rank. In May 2024, he became the Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23 Executive Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Monte holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from The Citadel, and a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from Marshall University.
Lieutenant Colonel Monte has numerous personal decorations but is most honored of serving on teams that earned the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, and Meritorious Unit Commendation.