Lt. Col. Misty J. Posey was born in central California in December 1976. During her senior year in high school, she was selected for a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship as a Marine Option Midshipman. She graduated valedictorian from Porterville High School in 1995 and subsequently attended the University of San Diego (USD) as a member of the San Diego NROTC Program. She attended Officer Candidates School in the summer of 1998. The next year, she graduated USD with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts/Bi-lingual Education and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in May 1999.
2nd Lt. Posey graduated The Basic School in November 1999 and was classified as a combat engineer. She attended Engineer Officer Course in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and graduated in April 2000. Her first duty station was 7th Engineer Support Battalion, where she served as the Bridge Platoon commander. She has since served in many training and operations billets and has commanded multiple times at the platoon and company level. She also deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group and served in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. Posey graduated the resident course for Expeditionary Warfare School in 2005 in Quantico, Va. In 2012, Maj. Posey graduated Command and Staff College with a Master of Military Studies. In 2012, Posey was selected to attend the School of Advanced Warfighting. She graduated in 2013 with a Master of Advanced Warfighting and was selected for service as the deputy plans officer for Manpower Integration Branch (MPI). During her tour with MPI, Posey led the Operational Planning Team that developed the Marine Corps Integration Implementation Plan. The plan was designed to ensure the integration of qualified female Marines into previously closed ground combat arms occupational fields, specialties, and units was successful. The goal of which was to sustain the most combat-effective force. She finished her tour with MPI after leading a mobile training team to educate leaders on the implementation plan and way ahead for the inclusion of female Marines into ground combat arms occupational fields and units.
In August 2016, Posey was assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group as the command inspector general. A month later, in September 2016, she was promoted to lieutenant colonel. She assumed command of 4th Recruit Training Battalion in Parris Island, S.C., on July 21, 2017.
Lt. Col. Posey is married and has six children.