LtCol Walzer is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1987 and served at the Naval Air Reconnaissance Control Center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He later attended Jacksonville University and was commissioned in 1995.
In 1996, he was assigned to 1st Radio Battalion, Marine Forces Pacific, Hawaii. He served as a platoon commander, assistant operations officer, and Officer in Charge of the battalion’s Urban Warrior Detachment. In 1998, he deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and participated in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, DESERT THUNDER and SAFE DEPARTURE.
In 1999, he was assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Between 1999 and 2001, he deployed multiple times to the Balkans in support of operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. From 2001 to 2003, he was assigned to the Advance Forward Operations (AFO) unit. In October, 2001 he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Task Force Sword and Task Force Bowie. In 2002, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Task Force 11. In 2003, he deployed to Iraq in support of Task Force 20.
In 2004, he was assigned as Commanding Officer, Hotel Company, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, at the National Security Agency (NSA) in San Antonio, Texas. In 2005, he deployed to Iraq in support of Task Force 145.
In 2008, he was assigned as the Executive Officer, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan. In 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan as the Commander, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion Detachment. Assigned to the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) and later to 1st Marine Division (Forward), he was designated as the Commander of Task Force Raider, a reconnaissance task force and 2d MEB’s time sensitive target raid/strike force.
From 2010 to 2011, he was assigned as the Deputy G-2 for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.
LtCol Walzer is a graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School and the Marine Corps Command & Staff College. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and a master’s degree from Marine Corps University.
Personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of second award. In 2006, LtCol Walzer was presented with the U.S. Army’s Knowlton Award.