Biography

Colonel Jamel Neville is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1995 and graduated from Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (Platoon Leaders Course) in 1999 while completing his undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in December 2000, then–Sergeant Neville was commissioned as a second lieutenant. 

In 2001, Colonel Neville attended The Basic School and was awarded the communications officer military occupational specialty (0602). He reported to 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force in May 2002 to serve as an MSQ-126 platoon commander and deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (Bahrain).  

Following his company-grade officer assignments as the Commanding Officer of Company C, 9th Communication Battalion, and Communications School Basic Communications Officer Course instructor/faculty advisor and school Operations Officer, then–Captain Neville was honorably discharged from Active Duty in December 2008. He immediately transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserves and worked in the private sector as a senior information technology business analyst and management consultant for the next several years, directly supporting The Joint Staff J3/National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration when he was not activated or deployed.  

In the Reserves, Colonel Neville served as an Advanced Communications Officer Course instructor, then was mobilized to serve as the 4th Force Reconnaissance Company S6 Communications Officer in 2011. While assigned to 4th Force Recon, he redeployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM with the first Special Purpose MAGTF-Africa rotation, established the program’s initial-entry command, control, communications, and computers (C4) infrastructure, and led theater security cooperation missions in Tanzania and Burundi. Colonel Neville was later re-activated to serve as a Deputy Commandant for Information/C4 Marine Corps Enterprise Network planner.  

In 2015, after serving in an activated status for several years, then–Major Neville answered the call to return to Active Duty fully. He rejoined the fleet as the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) G6 Communications Operations Officer, then was selected to deploy with the Marine Corps’ first Task Force Southwest rotation to Afghanistan as the Deputy Director for Future Operations (J35) and a strategic fires and effects coordinator during Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINAL/Resolute Support Mission.  

Colonel Neville’s career as a communications officer culminated as the 2d MEB Assistant Chief of Staff for Communications (AC/S G6), where he planned and led communications aboard the USS IWO JIMA and throughout the Arctic Circle and the Kingdom of Norway during TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2018.  

In 2018, Colonel Neville’s lateral-move request to the cyberspace warfare officer (1702) military occupational specialty was accepted by Headquarters Marine Corps. In 2019, then–Lieutenant Colonel Neville reported to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command. He served as the Current Operations Branch Head (G33), then simultaneously commanded Marine Corps Cyberspace Warfare Group Combat Mission Team–1 and U.S. Fleet Cyber Command Cyberwarfare Task Group–2 before being selected for top-level school. After graduating in 2022, he returned to the cyber mission force to serve as the Joint Force Headquarters–Cyber Marines and Joint Task Force–ARES J3 Director of Operations and was promoted to his current rank. 

Colonel Neville is a graduate of the Basic Communications Officer Course, Expeditionary Warfare School (non-resident), Marine Corps Command and Staff College, U.S. Cyber Command Joint Advanced Cyber Warfare Course and Mission Commander's Course, The Joint Staff Special Technical Operations Course, U.S. Air Force War College (non-resident), and U.S. Army War College. He has earned a bachelor of fine arts, an MBA in information technology management, a master's in military studies (with distinction), and a master's in strategic studies (with distinction), and is a certified information system security professional (CISSP).  

Colonel Neville’s military awards and decorations include four Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (gold level).