Lieutenant Colonel Peterson is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program in 2005 and entered the Virginia Tech Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) as a Marine Option Midshipman. Lieutenant Colonel Peterson graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. After graduating The Basic School and Combat Engineer Officer Course, he reported to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, NC where he served as the Mobility Assault Company Officer in Charge, Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Route Clearance Planner for II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Counter Improvised Explosive Device Cell. During this period, Lieutenant Colonel Peterson deployed twice to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Lieutenant Colonel Peterson's other operational assignments include: Company Commander, Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion where he executed gap crossing operations in support of Joint Exercise RIVER ASSAULT-18, Exercise STEEL KNIGHT-19, and Exercise SPARTAN FURY-19; Company Commander, Engineer Support Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion where he served as the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) Commander for SPMAGTF-ARCTIC EDGE-20 in Fairbanks, Alaska; Operations Officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 373 where he led the squadron through pre-deployment training for SPMAGTF-CR-CC 21.2; and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 2d Marine Logistics Group from 2025-2026. His staff and supporting establishment assignments include: Officer Instructor and Academic Officer, Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune, NC from 2014-2017; Aide-de-Camp to the 32nd Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), The Pentagon, from 2022-2023; and Indo-Pacific Cell, Manpower & Reserve Affairs (M&RA), HQMC in Quantico, VA from 2023-2025. Lieutenant Colonel Peterson assumed command of 2d Combat Engineer Battalion in May 2026. Lieutenant Colonel Peterson is a graduate of the Joint Engineer Operations Course, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Institute for Defense & Business, Expeditionary Warfare School (w/distinction), and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He holds a Master of Military Studies degree from Marine Corps University. Lieutenant Colonel Peterson's personal awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. He is married to the former Elizabeth Goergen of Richmond, Virginia and they have five children: Luke, James, Connor, Mary, and Charlotte.