Colonel Govea is from Los Angeles, California. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1991 and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. He served as a Legal Services Clerk for the Staff Judge Advocate, 3d Force Service Support Group and the Military Judge Advocate, Sierra Court Circuit, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. He completed the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training Program in 1994 and subsequently received his commission through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program in May 1998.

Colonel Govea’s command assignments include: Motor Transport Platoon Commander, Marine Service Support Group-31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) where he participated in Operation STABILISE in East Timor; Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 3d Transportation Support Battalion, 3d FSSG; Commanding Officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 2d Marine Logistics Group where he deployed with the 26th MEU and participated in hurricane disaster relief operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as part of Defense Support to Civil Authorities. He also deployed to the Mediterranean Sea where he provided logistical support for U.S. Africa Command operations and participated in multiple TSC exercises in the 5th and 6th Fleet regions.

Colonel Govea’s staff assignments include: tours as the Assistant Operations Officer, MSSG-31; Executive Officer, Landing Force Support Party, Brigade Service Support Group 3; Battalion Logistics Officer and Maintenance Management Officer, 3d TSB; Finance Officer, Program Manager’s Office for Light Armored Vehicles, Marine Corps Systems Command; Logistics Officer for the Command Element, 13th MEU and during this tour, he deployed throughout the Western Pacific, and the U.S. Central Command and AFRICOM Areas of Responsibility in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and counter-piracy operations. He served as the Deputy Director for Renewable Energy Affairs, Assistant Chief of Staff (AC/S) G-7, Marine Corps Installations-West. Colonel Govea also served as a Joint Logistics Planner for the Levant and Central Gulf Regions, J4 Plans Division, U.S. Central Command. He was a Logistics Faculty Advisor and the OIC for the Support Division, Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group, Marine Air Ground Task Force-Training Command. He served as the AC/S G-10 (Force Preservation), 2d MLG. Colonel Govea’s last assignment was as the AC/S G-4, 3d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Colonel Govea graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Cum Laude) in International Relations. His formal military education includes The Basic School, the Basic Logistics Officers Course, and the Amphibious Warfare School (Non-Resident). He has a Master of Business Administration Degree in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California; a Master of Military Science Degree (Distinguished Graduate) from Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia; and a Master of Strategic Studies Degree (Distinguished Graduate) from the U.S. Army War College. He was designated a Joint Qualified Officer in June 2020.

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Joint Service Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars, and Good Conduct Medal with bronze star.