Lieutenant Colonel Travis Grell was born and raised in Bellville, Texas and commissioned via Naval ROTC at the University of Texas at Austin in May 2007. He completed the Basic Officer Course in Quantico, Virginia, primary flight training and advanced helicopter training at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, and winged as a Naval Aviator in February 2010.

Lieutenant Colonel Grell reported to MCAS Camp Pendleton, California, completed replacement aircrew training in the AH-1W Super Cobra at HMLAT-303 and joined HMLA-469 “Vengeance” in September 2010. During his tour with Vengeance, he served in various billets including Airframes Division Officer, Aviation Safety Officer, and Pilot Training Officer, and graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course in 2013. He deployed in 2011 with HMM-262 (REIN) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting operation TOMADACHI earthquake and tsunami relief efforts, in 2012 to Helmand, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and in 2014 to the western Pacific on the Unit Deployment Program.

In 2015 Lieutenant Colonel Grell attended Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia, and was selected to join Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) as an Executive Flight Detachment pilot, flying the VH-3D and VH-60N helicopters. He was designated a Marine One aircraft commander and deployed in support of Presidential travel to more than thirty locations across the globe.

In July 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Grell reported to Marine Aircraft Group 41 at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas, initially performing duties as the Group Director of Safety and Standardization and S-3A before assuming the billet of Group Operations Officer for two years, responsible for the training and readiness of half the Marines and aircraft of 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. He assumed the duties of Camp Mujuk Executive Officer in June 2023.

Lieutenant Colonel Grell’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Air Medal individual action with combat “V” and Strike/Flight numeral 5, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He has over 2,000 mishap-free flight hours in Marine Corps helicopters and is authorized to wear the Presidential Service Badge.