Sergeant Major Mendez is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1997 and completed recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina in April 1997. Following recruit training, Private First Class Mendez attended the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Upon completion he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and assigned the MOS 0311 Infantryman. Lance Corporal Mendez then reported to Golf Company, 2nd Bn 8th Marines in July 1997 as a Rifleman. He was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal in December 1999.
In April 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and reported to Marine Corps Combat Service Support School, (Supply School) to conduct a lateral move to MOS 3043 Supply Administration. He subsequently deployed to Kosovo with 2nd Bn 8th Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. In March 2002, Sergeant Mendez was transferred to Marine Corps Embassy Security Command, Quantico, VA where he served as the Command Supply Chief and Battalion Color Sergeant. Sergeant Mendez was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in November 2004.
In December 2004, Staff Sergeant Mendez was then transferred back to 2nd Bn 8th Marines where he served as the Battalion Supply Chief and Headquarters and Service Company Gunnery Sergeant. In August 2007, Staff Sergeant Mendez was transferred to Marine Combat Service Support School (Supply School) as an Instructor. In December 2008, Staff Sergeant Mendez was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. In December 2009, Gunnery Sergeant Mendez was then transferred to 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit where he served as the Marine Expeditionary Unit Supply Chief and the Forward Command Element SNCOIC.
In July 2012, Gunnery Sergeant Mendez received orders to the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Camp Johnson, Camp Lejeune NC, where he served as a Faculty Advisor, and Chief Faculty Advisor for Sergeant’s Course. In January 2014, he was promoted to First Sergeant and received orders to Golf Company, 2nd Bn 8th Marines where he served from January 2014 to July 2015 as the Golf Company First Sergeant.
In August 2015 he was transferred to 9th Communication Battalion where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Headquarters Company and Alpha Company. In January 2018, First Sergeant Mendez was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major and transferred to First Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion, First Marine Expeditionary Force to assume his post as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Mendez has taken part in various operations around the world, from Humanitarian Operations in Haiti, Peacekeeping Operations in Kosovo to Combat Operations in Iraq. He also deployed to Romania with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Black Sea Rotational Force. Sergeant Major was the honor graduate from the School Of Infantry, Infantry Training Battalion. Sergeant Major Mendez was a distinguished graduate from SNCO Career Course and Advance Course. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one silver star in lieu of sixth award, Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award and the Combat Action Ribbon.