Lieutenant Colonel Shawn A. Rickrode was born in Wheeling, WV and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1991. He served with the Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Company in Norfolk, VA, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines; and the II Marine Expeditionary Force Special Operations Training Group and completed deployments to Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope and Port-Au-Prince, Haiti for Operation Provide Comfort, Okinawa, Japan, Operation Silver Wake in Tirana, Albania and Operation Guardian Retrieval in Kinshasa, Zaire.
In August 1998, Sergeant Rickrode reported to the Naval Reserve Officer Training (NROTC) Unit, The Citadel in Charleston, SC as a MECEP student, successfully completing Officer Candidates School in August 1999 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on December 19, 2001.
Following his successful completion of The Basic School and Military Police Basic Officer Course, he was ordered in December 2002 to Camp Lejeune to serve with 2d Military Police Battalion. He deployed with in January 2003 and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon his return to CONUS in August 2003, he supported the installation security and law enforcement mission for the Provost Marshal Office, MCB Camp Lejeune, s as a Platoon Commander, Services Officer, and Military Police Company Executive Officer until December 2004. In March 2005, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Operations section with 2d Military Police Battalion.
Upon his return in October 2005, First Lieutenant Rickrode was transferred to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to serve as the Anti-terrorism/Force Protection Officer. In addition, he served as the Future Operations Officer and Liaison Officer to Commander, 5th Fleet, during their deployment from January to July 2007. In July 2008, Captain Rickrode returned to the NROTC Unit, The Citadel as the Marine Officer Instructor, where he served until June 2011.
In July 2011, Captain Rickrode reported the Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group in Virginia Beach, VA and immediately deployed to the Republic of Georgia to serve as Deputy OIC, Georgia Training Team. Upon his return to the newly named Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group, Major Rickrode was assigned as the Future Operations Officer until his departure for the Naval War College July 2014. Upon graduation in June 2015 he transferred to for duty as the Executive Officer, 2d Law Enforcement Battalion. In September 2017 Major Rickrode was assigned to the Joint Center for International Security Force Assistance at Fort Leavenworth, KS where he serves as Deputy Director.
Lieutenant Colonel Rickrode is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School (Distance Education Program), College of Naval Command and Staff, Joint and Combined Warfighting School, holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Military Affairs from The Citadel and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (x2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (x3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (x4) and the Combat Action Ribbon.