Rhett Jeppson graduated from the University of Florida in December of 1987 with a BA in History and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. His first assignment was the Marine Corps Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.
Following completion of The Basic Officer Course and The Infantry Officer Course, Rhett reported to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. He served as a Rifle and 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and a principal Battalion Staff officer. While serving with 1st Marine Division, Rhett earned the Combat Action Ribbon for service in Operation Desert Storm.
In August 1991, Rhett left active duty with the Marine Corps to return to Florida to attend to his family and father's business while his father, suffering from Leukemia, underwent a bone marrow transplant.
Rhett re-entered active duty service in November of 1995 and was assigned to Special Operations Command Central where he functioned as an operations officer. During this time as an operations officer, Rhett was responsible for the conduct of numerous complex exercises and operations within Southwest Asia and the Horn of Africa.
In December 1999, Rhett began work with the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation as the Deputy Director of Pari-Mutuel Wagering and later as Special Assistant to the Secretary. In 2000 Rhett became the Director of State Purchasing, overseeing the execution of all state contracts and statewide procurement vehicles.
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rhett was recalled to service and reported to U.S. Marine Forces Europe. There he represented his command in the European Command's Counter-Terrorism Joint Planning Group. He was later promoted to Chief of Current Operations, Marine Forces Europe, and was directly responsible for employment of all USMC forces in Europe and Western Africa.
Rhett was assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command located in Tampa, Florida in 2004. He served first in the Training Division, as Command's lead in support of the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) and then in the Center for Special Operations, where he developed and led the Command's engagement with key European Partners.
In May 2010, Rhett returned from a one-year tour in Afghanistan where he served with U.S. Forces -- Afghanistan as the Deputy Director of Operations. During this year Rhett led several command initiatives including the planning for a HQ to oversee detention operation and a rule of law programs in Afghanistan, and the initial coordination for the Commander's Reconciliation and Reintegration initiative.
After returning from deployment, Rhett was assigned to the Crisis Response Branch, Operations Directorate, U.S. European Command. During the past two years Rhett has served as the lead planner for numerous small and large-scale crisis operations. Rhett is married to Renee' Howell Jeppson . They have four children.