Colonel Ouzts entered the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1984 and attended recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina where he graduated as Honor Man of Platoon 1016. After joining HMA-773, NAS Atlanta as an Avionics Technician, Colonel Ouzts graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. degree in Geology and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Officer Candidate Course in 1986.
Colonel Ouzts’ assignments in the operational forces include tours with Marine Air Support Squadron-3 from 1987-1990; Marine Air Support Squadron-2 from 1990-1991; Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron-38 from 1991-1994, and as Group Operations officer with Marine Air Control Group-28 from 2002-2004.
Selected for command in 2004, Colonel Ouzts became the Commanding Officer, Hotel Company, Marine Security Guard Battalion, Frankfurt, Germany where he provided command, training, and administrative oversight for Marine Security Guard Detachments at U.S. embassies and consulates throughout central and eastern Europe.
His previous staff assignments include Assistant Operations Officer and Command and Control Instructor with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics School-1; Branch Head, Wargaming and Exercise Branch, United States Space Command J5 Directorate; Deputy Director, Aviation Command and Control Branch, HQMC DC/S Aviation; and Director, Inspections Division, Inspector General of the Marine Corps.
Colonel Ouzts holds a Master of International Service from American University and is a graduate of the Marine Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, Defense Language Institute (East), and the Inter-American Defense College. In 2000, he was selected as a CMC National Fellow and completed his fellowship at the Center for Security Policy, a national security think-tank in Washington, D.C.
His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Achievement Medal, the Navy Marine Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.