Sergeant Major Anthony D. Vega is a native of El Paso, Texas and volunteered to serve in the United States Marine Corps on 18 January 1999. He attended Recruit Training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, California. After graduation he attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) and was assigned the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 6531, Aviation Ordnance Technician. Upon graduation, Sergeant Major Vega attended Aviation Ordnance 'A' School in Pensacola, Florida and the H-1 Aircraft Ordnance Technician System 'C' School aboard Camp Pendleton, California.
In September of 2000, he reported to HMT-303 Training Squadron aboard Camp Pendleton where during his tenure he held the key billets of Collateral Duty Inspector (CDI) and Quality Assurance/Safety Observer (QASO). Sergeant Major Vega was promoted to Sergeant in January of 2003 and transferred to the HMLA-269 Gunrunners aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina. In February of 2005, Sergeant Major Vega deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Upon a successful tour to OIF, Sergeant Major Vega was awarded the billet of Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge (NCOIC).
Sergeant Major Vega deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 2006 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh. In 2007, he deployed with the 26th MEU(SOC) and was in support of various anti-piracy operations in Africa. In 2007, Sergeant Major Vega was promoted to Staff Sergeant and completed his tour with HMLA-269 as the Staff Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge (SNCOIC), and was then selected to return to Camp Pendleton as an MOS Instructor for the AH-1W Super Cobra/UH-1N Huey Aviation Ordnance field.
As an MOS Instructor through 2011, Sergeant Major Vega successfully achieved the title of Master Training Specialist (MTS) aiding in the transfer to the AH-1Z and UH-1Y programs, earned his Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Instructor tab with black belt, and was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant with the corresponding MOS of 6591 (Ordnance Chief). Additionally during this time, Sergeant Major Vega graduated from Park University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Magna Cum Laude.
In 2011, Sergeant Major Vega reported to HMLA-469 Vengeance aboard Camp Pendleton to serve as the Ordnance Chief and deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF. In 2014, Sergeant Major Vega transferred to Naval Weapons Station Fallbrook, California and served as the Ordnance Chief and the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Ordnance Detachment. During his tour in 2014, Sergeant Major Vega was screened and selected for the unaccompanied billet of Ordnance Chief with Marine Forces Korea (MARFORK) and successfully completed a one year tour. In September of 2015, Sergeant Major Vega executed orders to Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG) and successfully completed the Detachment Commander Course 1-16 in December 2015 upon which he was assigned to U.S. Embassy Madrid, Spain, Region 5 to serve a Detachment Commander.
Upon being selected for First Sergeant in December of 2016, Sergeant Major Vega was selected and awarded to serve in the position of Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) to Region 6, Eastern and Southern Africa, MCESG, in Johannesburg, South Africa, overseeing 23 Marine Security Guard Detachments across 25 different countries. During his tenure, Sergeant Major Vega attended the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy aboard Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, successfully earning honor graduate in a joint environment.
Sergeant Major Vega checked into 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in June of 2020 where he served as the Weapons Company First Sergeant. He was selected for Sergeant Major in December of 2020 and was awarded orders to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines to serve as the Battalion Sergeant Major. While serving with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Sergeant Major Vega successfully deployed in support of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) East 22.1 to Okinawa, Japan and earned a Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Upon completion of a successful tour in November of 2022, Sergeant Major Vega was assigned to Marine Combat Training Battalion East where he currently resides as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Vega's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, and a Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.