Brandon Bolling graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University in 1995. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in August 1996 and promoted to First Lieutenant in August 1998. He completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1999. He was promoted to Captain in September 2000, and following graduation from The Basic School in October 2000, he was assigned to Naval Justice School in Newport, RI and was sworn and certified as a judge advocate in December 2000.
In December 2000, Captain Bolling reported to the LSSS, 3d FSSG. During his initial tour, Captain Bolling served as OIC, Legal Assistance, Trial Counsel, and following the 9/11 attacks, as XO, Security Forces Company, Camp Kinser. In January 2002, Captain Bolling reported to LSSS, 2d FSSG, and served as Trial Counsel, Senior Trial Counsel, and Assistant Senior Defense Counsel. In July 2003, Captain Bolling deployed as Deputy SJA, C/JTF-HOA, Djibouti Africa. In July 2005, Captain Bolling returned to Naval Justice School, where he served as an Instructor and the Senior Marine Representative. He was promoted to Major in November 2006. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2006 where he served as the OIC, Detention Operations, C/JTF 76 & 82 and Brigade Judge Advocate, Task Force Guardian. In August 2007, Major Bolling left active duty to pursue a career as a civil rights attorney and later as an Assistant United States Attorney where he has served since as a federal prosecutor.
In August 2008, Major Bolling reported to the RLS, JAD to serve as a regional judge advocate. In December 2010, Major Bolling was recalled to active duty where he served as Trial Counsel, Marine Corps Assessment and Investigation Team and prosecuted the highest-ranking Marine Corps officer ever charged with espionage. He also served as OIC, LSST-E “Legal Team Echo,” the busiest prosecution office in the DoD. Major Bolling is the only reserve officer to hold this prestigious position. In April 2011, Major Bolling was certified and sworn as a Military Judge where he presided over numerous courts-martial. In September 2013 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In July 2015 Lieutenant Colonel Bolling was assigned as Branch Head, Naval Justice School Reserve Detachment and Senior Marine Instructor.
In July 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Bolling was recalled to active duty as a full-time student at National War College, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. He graduated in June 2018 with a Master of Science in national security strategy and a concentration in weapons of mass destruction studies. In July 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Bolling reported to the MAGTF Staff Training Program, MCB Quantico, VA and served as the Deputy G-3 and Deputy Chief of Staff. He was promoted to Colonel in September 2019 and reported to I MEF where he served as SJA. Col Bolling is the current I MEF Chief of Staff. He is married to Alisa Bolling, and they have four children, Marcus, Matthew, Annie, and Mikey.