Mr. Shelton is a native of Newark, New Jersey. He holds a Bachelor of Art Degree in Political Science from Rutgers University. He was Congressional Aide to the Honorable Congressmen Nicholas Mavroules (D-Mass) 1979-80 before his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in June 1980

Mr. Shelton began his military career as an Infantry Officer with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from April 1981-June 1984. He served in all company grade billets to include Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, Commanding Officer and Staff Officer. He served as Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Readiness and Special Projects Office, FMFlant, Norfolk, VA from July 1984-June 1987. He was promoted to Captain in June 1985. Mr. Shelton then moved on to serve as Commanding Officer and Special Weapons Security Officer, Marine Security Detachment, USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) from June 1987-June 1989. He then attended the Army Advanced Infantry Course, Fort Benning, GA from July 1989 to January 1990. Mr. Shelton joined 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, Camp Pendleton, CA and served from January 1990-June 1993. There, he served as Company Commander, CO of Troops on the USS Denver (LPD-9) during Desert Shield/Desert Storm and then became the Battalion Operations Officer (S-3) for BLT 3/1 assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC). He was the operations officer for BLT 3/1 which deployed as part of JTF-LA during the Los Angeles riots in April 1992. He was promoted to the rank of Major in July 1992. Mr. Shelton then attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College 1993-94. Following completion of Command and Staff College, he was selected as Assistant/Instructor Course Director for Warfighting and Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) courses at Command and Staff College from June 1994-July 1997. In October 1997, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the Navy Warfare Development Command as Head of Land Warfare Doctrine Branch and served until June 1999. He then moved to the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic in Norfolk, VA where he served as the Operations and Training Officer (N3) from June 1999 - June 2000. Mr. Shelton assumed command of Weapons Training Battalion and Commander of Marine Scout Sniper School, MCB Camp Lejeune, NC from July 2000 to July 2002. He then attended the National War College, Washington D.C. and earned a Masters Degree in National Security Strategy in the academic year 2002-2003. He was promoted to Colonel in January 2002. Mr. Shelton was assigned to Mobilization Command in Kansas City, MO where he served as Deputy Commander. He moved on to assumed command of Security Battalion and serviced Assistant Chief of Staff, Security Emergency Services, MCB Camp Pendleton, August 2004 through 2006. He was reassigned to the Inspector General’s office in September 2006 where he served as Director, Assistance and Investigations, Chief of Staff and Acting Deputy Inspector General.

Mr. Shelton's personal awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (w/4 Gold Stars), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and numerous unit citations/medals.