Dakota Newsome

Captain Dakota Newsome graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in September 2011. After completing Marine Combat Training, he attended the Basic Electronic and Ground Radio Repairer Course at Twenty-Nine Palms, California, graduating in July 2012.

In August 2012, Captain Newsome reported to the Telephone Systems Branch, G-6, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Okinawa, where he served as an Installer and Installation Crew Chief until July 2014. During this time, he was promoted to Corporal in December 2012 and to Sergeant in August 2013.

He then joined 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, serving as the Assistant Communications Maintenance Chief from July to December 2014, and as the Communications Maintenance Chief from December 2014 to December 2016. In this role, he deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit as part of Battalion Landing Team 3/1 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Selected for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, Captain Newsome attended Officer Candidate School in September 2016 and subsequently studied at San Diego State University from December 2016 to May 2020. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 2020. He completed The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, in April 2021 and graduated from the Basic Communications Officer Course at the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School, Twenty-Nine Palms, in December 2021.

Captain Newsome was assigned to Marine Wing Communication Squadron 38 in January 2022 before transferring to Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, where he served as the S-6 from January 2022 to March 2023. He then returned to Marine Wing Communication Squadron 38 as the Current Operations Officer. He later served as Company Commander and Executive Officer of Bravo Company and concluded his tour as the Squadron’s Assistant Operations Officer.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University. His personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with one star in lieu of second award.