Colonel Schreffler was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a bachelor of art’s degree in history and was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1994. Following graduation from the Basic Officer Course and the Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, Virginia he reported to 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. As a lieutenant in 2/5 he served as a rifle platoon commander in Company E, S-3 liaison officer, mortar platoon commander, and assistant operations officer. He deployed twice with 2/5 when it served as the battalion landing team for 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and participated in unit training and exercises in Japan, Korea, and Australia. In June 1998 Captain Schreffler reported to the Basic School for duty as the Weapons Platoon Commander, Combat Instructor Company. From September 1999 until July 2001 he served as an instructor at Infantry Officer Course.

Following the tour at the Basic School he attended Amphibious Warfare School and graduated in May 2002. Captain Schreffler reported to 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Twentynine Palms, California in June 2002. He served as the commanding officer of Company L until May 2003 and led the company from Kuwait to Baghdad during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Next he became the operations officer of 3/7 and participated in stability operations in Karbala, Iraq from June until September 2003 and combat operations in Al Qa’im, Iraq from March until September 2004. He was promoted to major in April of 2004. From April 2005 until June 2008 Major Schreffler returned to Quantico, Virginia to serve at the Expeditionary Warfare School as a faculty advisor, the infantry occupational field expansion course program director, and the Curriculum Development Section Head. During this tour he completed the Command and Staff College Distance Education Program.

Following his assignment at Expeditionary Warfare School Major Schreffler attended the School of Advanced Warfighting, and graduated in June 2009 with the degree of Master of Operational Studies. Major Schreffler reported to the War Plans Branch, G-5, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific at Camp Smith, Hawaii in July 2009. For the next fourteen months he managed the command’s operational planning for crisis and contingency response on the Korean peninsula. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in February 2010. Lieutenant Colonel Schreffler returned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California in September 2010. He commanded 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion from February 2011 until July 2012 and led the battalion during a deployment to Reg e Khan Neshin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

He concluded his tour as the Director of Division Schools before reporting to the U.S. Naval War College as a student. He graduated in November 2013 with the degree of Master of Strategic Studies. From December 2013 until December 2016 Lieutenant Colonel Schreffler served as the J35 Chief of Future Operations at the Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During this tour he deployed twice, first as a joint task force director of operations and then as a joint task force commander. He was promoted to colonel in October 2016 and assumed command of 5th Marines in March 2017. From April until December of 2018 he deployed in command of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command. Colonel Schreffler’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device and gold star in lieu of second award, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster in lieu of second award, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device and gold star, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.