Lieutenant General Banta was promoted to his current rank on 9 July 2021 and is currently serving as the Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics.
Spending his formative years in California and Connecticut, Lieutenant General Banta graduated from Colgate University in 1986 and was subsequently commissioned through the Officer Candidates Course Program in December 1986. Following his initial training as a Combat Engineer Officer, he has held a variety of billets in the operating forces, supporting establishment, and the joint community.
Lieutenant General Banta’s assignments in the operating forces include Platoon Commander and Company Commander in 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Assistant Operations Officer for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Operation Desert Shield), Executive Officer for the I Marine Expeditionary Force Jump Command Post (Operation Desert Storm), Operations Officer and Company Commander for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Commanding Officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 (Operation Iraqi Freedom), Operations Officer and Commanding Officer of Marine Wing Support Group 17, and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations for 3d Marine Logistics Group.
His other assignments include Engineer Officer for the Tactical Exercise Evaluation and Control Group at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms CA, Program Analyst in the Programs and Resources Department at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington DC, Force Structure Analyst in the Force Structure, Resources and Assessment Directorate (J8) on the Joint Staff in Washington DC, and Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy in Washington DC.
As a General Officer, he has served as Commanding General, 2d Marine Logistics Group; Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations West/Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; Chief, Combined Joint Logistics (CJ4), Headquarters Resolute Support - Afghanistan; Assistant Deputy Commandant, Programs and Resources Department, Headquarters Marine Corps; and Commander, Marine Corps Installations Command.
He is a 2006 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and holds a Master’s Degree in Systems Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.