Colonel Sullivan is a native of Long Island, New York. He attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant following graduation from Iona College in May 1999. He proceeded to Quantico, Virginia, where he attended The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course.
In October 2000, Lieutenant Sullivan was ordered to Camp Pendleton, California to serve with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. In January 2002, he deployed in support of the 31st MEU as Weapons Platoon Commander. In February 2003, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as Company Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, Company L.
In January 2004, Captain Sullivan reported to The Basic School. He served as a Warfighting Instructor, a Staff Platoon Commander, and an instructor on the staff at the Infantry Officer Course. In 2006, he attended the Expeditionary Warfare School where he was a distinguished graduate. Captain Sullivan joined 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in July 2007 while the unit was deployed to Ar-Ramadi, Iraq. He served as the Assistant Operations Officer for the remainder of the deployment. Upon the unit's return to Camp Pendleton, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer, Company G. He led Company G while the unit took part in a deployment with the 15th MEU in 2008.
In July 2009, Major Sullivan deployed to Al Qaim, Iraq, as Team Leader for a Port of Entry Transition Team. He was transferred in May 2010 to the 12th Marine Corps District to assume duties as Commanding Officer, Recruiting Station San Diego. Following his tour on recruiting, Major Sullivan attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College where he graduated with distinction. In July 2014, Major Sullivan reported to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, where he served as battalion executive officer and deployed with the battalion in support of the 31st MEU.
Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan assumed command of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, in June of 2016. In July 2017, BLT 1/5 deployed in support of the 15th MEU. After relinquishing command in June 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan graduated with distinction from the College of Naval Warfare in Newport, Rhode Island. He arrived at NORAD and U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND in July of 2019 where he served in the operations directorate and as the Executive Assistant to the Commander.
Colonel Sullivan assumed command of 1st Marine Regiment in June of 2022. He is currently forward deployed as the Commanding Officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin.
Colonel Sullivan's personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device, and the Combat Action Ribbon.