Lieutenant Colonel “Sal” Salcido is a native of Laguna Beach, California and enlisted in the United States Navy (Delayed Entrance Program) in 1987. Upon completion of Boot Camp (Orlando, FL), Photographers Mate “A” School (Pensacola, FL), and 2nd Class Dive School (Pearl Harbor, HI), he enjoyed assignments around the world while assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Underwater Photography Team (Little Creek, VA).
Lieutenant Colonel Salcido was commissioned in December 1995 through the Naval ROTC program with a B.S. in Chemistry from Old Dominion University. As a Lieutenant, he served with 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion as Platoon Commander and Battery Executive Officer (1996 – 1998). With the transition of the 7204 Military Occupational Specialty, he was re-designated a Communications Officer and initially assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Foster G-6 as the Customer Service OIC (1998) before reassignment as the S-6 Platoon Commander, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (1998-2000). He participated in support of International Force in East Timor humanitarian assistance/peacekeeping efforts during Operation Stabilize.
Upon promotion to Captain, he transferred to 3d Force Service Support Group G-6 serving as the G-6 Network Operations Officer and the Operations Officer (2000 – 2001). His next assignment was as 4th Marine Division Communications Company (Indianapolis, IN Detachment) Inspector – Instructor (2001 – 2004). He deployed in Jan 2003 with the Selected Marine Corps Reserve detachment to augment 1st Marine Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As a Major, he served as the I Marine Expeditionary Force G-6 Systems Planning and Engineering Operations Officer (2004 – 2007) where he deployed in support of OIF III, IV, and V. He was then selected to attend the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (2007) with follow-on joint assignment to Defense Information Systems Agency – Europe where he served as the Cyber Branch Chief and Liaison Officer to European Command J-6 and Marine Forces Europe/Africa G-6. Upon his return to CONUS in 2011, he checked into 2d Marine Division and immediately deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Task Force Leatherneck as the Deputy G-6. In the summer of 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Salcido was selected as the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) G-6/ Regional Command Southwest C-6.
Lieutenant Colonel Salcido assumed command of Headquarters and Support Battalion, School of Infantry-East on 11 July 2014.
Lieutenant Colonel Salcido is a graduate of The Basic School, USMC HAWK Missile and Low Altitude Air Defense Officers Course, Communication Officers Course, Telecommunication Systems Engineering Course, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Old Dominion University, and a M.S. in Adult Education from Kansas State University. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.