Pep served thirteen years in the United States Marine Corps (active duty and Marine Corps Reserve) as a Force Reconnaissance Marine.  During his service, he was a graduate of the Basic Reconnaissance Course, Combatant Diver, Static Line Airborne, HALO/Military Free Fall, Marine Corps Scout Sniper, SERE-C, High Risk Personnel and other associated special operations qualification courses.  Having served as both a Team leader and Platoon Sergeant while serving with 1st, 2nd and 4th Force Reconnaissance Companies in peace time and during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pep was medically separated and subsequently retired from active service in 2005.

In 2007, Pep was selected as the Director of the MARFORPAC Command Operations Center.  While filling this position, he was responsible for developing MARFOR level Command Operations Center and Crisis Action Team (CAT) standard operating procedures, a detailed training/certification plan for all assigned COC and CAT personnel, the Command Continuity of Operations (COOP)/emergency relocation plan and was the project lead for the design and build of the current MARFORPAC COC facility.  The COC project was completed in fourteen months (initial design to project completion) and exhausted less than half of the original project budget of $13 million dollars.  This project provided Commander, MARFORPAC a state of the art secure facility capable of executing Geographic Combatant Command (COCOM) directed operations, C2 of operating forces (I & III MEF), execution of Marine Corps Support to OPLAN/CONPLAN execution, DOD Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) and other operations as necessary, significantly under budget and ahead of schedule.

In 2015, Pep was promoted to Director of Operations of the MARFORPAC G3/5/7 Division.  In this role, he is responsible for supervision, oversight and coordination of a Directorate responsible for Marine Corps Current/Future Operations, Global Force Management, Readiness, Reserve Integration, Expeditionary/MAGTF Operations, MAGTF Training Program, Formal Schools and Force Protection (CBRN, LE, CIP, AT/FP, NLW).  As the MARFORPAC Director of Operations, he has been responsible for the coordination of numerous MARFORPAC contingency operations and tier one exercises to include Operations Tomodachi (Foreign Humanitarian Assistance and Consequence Management in Japan/March – May 2011), Operation Damayan (Foreign Humanitarian Assistance in the Philippines – November 2013) and Operation Sahayogi Haat (Foreign Humanitarian Assistance in Nepal/May 2015)

In 2019, Pep was promoted to the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations & International Engagement (Deputy AC/S G3) of Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.  In this role, he is tasked with assisting the MARFORPAC Operations Officer in the operational oversight, proper employment and future training, acquisition and employment strategy of 2/3’s of the United States Marine Corps operating force (I & III MEF).

His personal decorations include the Navy & Marine Corps Medal (2nd award) with combat distinguishing device and the Combat Action Ribbon.  He is currently married to Charity Tablada and has a daughter (Hunter) and a son (Haven).