Lieutenant Colonel Targos was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1970. He was commissioned in May of 1992 after graduation from Marquette University with a degree in Civil Engineering. After attending the Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, he was first assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines where he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Assistant Operations Officer, Company Commander for both Charlie Company and Headquarters and Service Company.

In 1997, he reported to The Basic School in Quantico, VA where he served as a Staff Platoon Commander and Infantry Officer Course instructor.

In 2001, he attended the United States Army Infantry Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, Georgia.

From 2001 to 2003 he served as the Company Grade Infantry Monitor and Head of Company Grade Assignments at Headquarters, United States Marine Corps.

From 2003 to 2006 he served as the Battalion Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, deploying to Ar Ramadi, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II and Okinawa with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

From 2006 to 2008 he attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College, receiving a Masters in Military Studies and the School of Advanced Warfighting receiving a Masters in Operational Studies.

From 2008 to 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Targos served as the Strategy and Plans Officer for United States Marine Corps Forces, Europe, Stuttgart, Germany.

From 2010 to 2011, he served as the Executive Officer of 5th Marines and Senior Advisor to the United Arab Emirates' Khalifa Bin Zayed II Brigade of the Presidential Guard.

Lieutenant Colonel Targos' personal decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (with one gold star), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two gold stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.