Sergeant Major Shepard is from Lakeview Oregon.  He was active in wrestling, Future Farmers of America and was an avid hunter.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 2003 and graduated from MCRD, San Diego.  Upon completion of School of Infantry he received the primary Military Occupational Specialty of 0311, Infantry Rifleman and received orders to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3d Marine Division. 

In July of 2004, sergeant Major Shepard deployed on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.  During this deployment he participated in various training exercises for the Maritime Special Purpose Force in Guam, Okinawa, and Kuwait prior to supporting OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM as a part of OPERATION PHANTOM FURY in Fallujah Iraq.

In March 2005, Sergeant Major Shepard deployed to Konar Provence, Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.  During this deployment he was selected as a squad leader in the Marine Corps Distributed Operations program. 

In February 2007, Sergeant Major Shepard deployed to Haditha, Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM as a squad leader.  During this deployment he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. 
          
In March 2008, Sergeant Major Shepard was selected to attend Combat Instructor Course and upon graduation was assigned to Kilo Company, Marine Combat Training Battalion as a Combat instructor.  He served as a Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander for two years. Sergeant Major Shepard was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and selected to assume the position as the Tactics Section Leader for Headquarters and Instructor Company. 

In March 2011, Sergeant Major Shepard was assigned to 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division and served as Machine Gun Section Leader and Platoon Sergeant.  During this assignment he successfully graduated from Winter Mountain Leader Course and Infantry Unit Leader Course prior to deploying on the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  During the deployment he was a part of numerous training missions in East Timor Leste, Djibouti, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and conducted an Embassy reinforcement mission in Bahrain. 

In September 2013, Sergeant Major Shepard was assigned to Marine Barracks Washington D.C. and served as a Platoon Sergeant for a ceremonial marching platoon and the Silent Drill Platoon.  Sergeant Major Shepard was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and upon completion of the 2015 parade season, Sergeant Major Shepard was transferred to Guard Company and assigned as the Guard Chief of the White House Communications Agency.  During this period, Sergeant Major Shepard traveled in support of the President and Vice President of the United States and National Security Council in order to provide security on classified spaces and materials. 

In September 2017, Sergeant Major Shepard was assigned to 2nd Battalion 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division and served as the Weapons Company Operations Chief.  In October 2017, Sergeant Major Shepard deployed in support of Unit Deployment Program West to Okinawa and Camp Fuji, Japan.  In November 2018, Sergeant Major Shepard deployed in support of SPMAGTF Peru. 

In December 2018, Sergeant Major Shepard was selected to First Seargant and received orders to 1st intelligence Battalion to assume the position as a Company First Sergeant for Battlespace Surveillance Company and Operations Company and Direct Support Company. 1st Sergeant Shepard was given TAD orders to I Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion and is currently serving as the Combat Service Support Company 1st Sergeant. 

In December 2021 Sergeant Major was focked to Sergeant Major and checked into Marine Corp recruiting station Frederick, Maryland, 4th Marine Corp District.