Major Ashley is from Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended Recruit Training at MCRD San Diego in October of 1996.
Upon graduation from MCRD, he attended basic infantry training at the School of Infantry (W) and was assigned the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 0311 rifleman and received orders to Charlie Company 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division. While at 1st Bn, 4th Marines he deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable (MEUSOC) in February 1998 in support of Operation Southern Watch. In January 2000 Major Ashley again deployed with BLT 1/4, this time with the 15th MEUSOC as an infantry squad leader.
In 2005, while serving as platoon sergeant in 2nd Blt 23rd Marines, he was accepted into the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and earned his commission through the Platoon Leaders Course Program, subsequently graduating Officer Candidates School in August 2006. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Business Management, December 2006. Maj Ashley later received a Masters of Business Administration from Liberty University in 2018.
After completion of The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, July 2008. During this tour, Major Ashley served as 3rd Platoon Commander, Echo Company, and deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed, 3rd Platoon detached from the company and operated independently in the Garmsir District. 3rd Platoon conducted counter-insurgency operations and advised the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in military and civil operations. Upon re-deploying to Camp Pendleton in May 2011, he was assigned to The School of Infantry (W), Camp Pendleton, CA. There he served as the Commanding Officer of Delta Company, Infantry Training Battalion. In 2014, he was reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and served as the Commanding Officer of Golf Company. Golf Company deployed to the Middle East as the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Vertical Assault Company aboard the USS Boxer. In January of 2017, he next served as the Commanding Officer of Infantry Unit Leader’s Training Company then the Operations Officer at Advanced Infantry Training Battalion (West). In May of 2018, Major Ashley was assigned as the Deputy Commander of Detachment Two, Hanoi Vietnam supporting the recovery efforts of services members unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. In September of 2020, Major Ashley was assigned to Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and currently serves as the Executive Officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion.
Major Ashley resides with his two children; Joseph and Addison.