Colonel Marshall Straus Scantlin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering in 1995 from Texas A&M University. In 1996 he earned a certificate in System Safety Engineering, also from Texas A&M University. In 2008 he graduated with a Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University and multiple graduate certificates in Civil Military Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School. Colonel Scantlin is completing a Master of Arts in History at Pittsburgh State University.
Colonel Scantlin is a graduate of various U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, United Nations, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization courses to include the U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare Course, U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer School, U.S. Army Command and Staff College, U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College, Defense Strategy Course, and U.S. Army War College Fellowship.
Before entering active duty, Colonel Scantlin worked for ten years as a Safety Engineer in Deer Park, Texas and is currently a Certified Safety Professional. In 1997, Colonel Scantlin entered military service in Houston, Texas. He led a Civil Affairs team attached to 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operation Iraqi Freedom – 1 and has commanded as a Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel. Colonel Scantlin has participated in combined exercises with partner nations on four continents and worked with several Central and South American Armies to improve teamwork between nations. He commanded the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), was a U.S. Army War College Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin, was the Branch Chief, Dynamic Fires, for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii and is a Joint Qualified Officer. He served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), and most-recently Commander, Army Reserve Careers Group
Decorations and awards that Colonel Scantlin has received include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, German Armed Forces Badge of Military Proficiency in Gold, Netherlands Parachutist Badge, Royal Spanish Parachutist Badge, the General Winfield Scott Civil Affairs Regiment Medallion in Bronze, and the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara Field Artillery award.Colonel Scantlin is married to the former Carla Michelle Fant, and they have three children, Jacob, Addison, and Rebecca. Jacob will start his freshman year at the University of Houston in August and Addison and Rebecca are both lettermen in academics and sports.