Col. Jeffrey H. Buffa is a native of Lake Tahoe, CA. Upon completion of Marine Corps boot camp in 1988, Private Buffa attended the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, NC where he received the 0311 MOS. After passing the Reconnaissance Indoctrination, Private First Class Buffa received orders to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Okinawa, Japan.
Lance Corporal Buffa served with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion from 1989 to 1991 deploying to various locations in the Far and Middle Eastern regions. In August of 1990 Lance Corporal Buffa deployed with 1st Platoon, “Charlie” Company to Saudi Arabia where the platoon attached to “Alpha” Co 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, serving with that Reconnaissance Company for the duration of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. After redeploying from Saudi Arabia Lance Corporal Buffa reenlisted and received orders to 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, Camp Lejeune, NC in August of 1991.
Sergeant Buffa served in 1st Platoon, 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company from 1991 to 1995. After several years of being assigned to a Joint Task Force, Sergeant Buffa deployed with 1st Platoon as part of the 22nd MEU(SOC) participating in Operations Deny Flight and Provide Hope. After returning from deployment, Sergeant Buffa received orders to NROTC Unit, The Citadel in Charleston, SC to attend college as a MECEP student.
Staff Sergeant Buffa attended college at The Citadel from 1995 until graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in History. Upon graduation with the Class of 1998, 2nd Lieutenant Buffa received orders to the Basic School in Quantico, VA. After completion of The Basic School, 2nd Lieutenant Buffa received the 0203 MOS and subsequently attended the Marine Infantry Officer course. Upon completion of the Marine Infantry Officer Course, 2nd Lieutenant Buffa finished his basic MOS training by attending the US Army's Military Intelligence Officers Basic Course, at Fort Huachuca, AZ. 2nd Lieutenant Buffa then received orders to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, CLNC.
Captain Buffa served at 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company from 1999 to 2005. During this tour, Captain Buffa served as the Platoon Commander for 2nd Platoon, deploying to the Mediterrean Sea with the 24th MEU(SOC). In 2003, Captain Buffa deployed with 2nd Platoon to Kuwait attaching to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company for the invasion of Iraq. Immediately after returning from Iraq, Captain Buffa assumed command of 1st Platoon and deployed with the 22nd MEU(SOC)to Afghanistan. After returning from this deployment, Captain Buffa served as the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company Operations Officer until receiving orders to Marine Corps Systems Command.
Major Buffa served at Marine Corps System Command from 2005 to 2009 with PM Raids and Recon. During this tour, Major Buffa served as the Small Craft and Combatant Diving Projects Officer and the Amphibious Operations Section Team Leader. This tour was interrupted by a yearlong deployment from 2006-2007 to Fallujah, Iraq with 1st Battalion, 24th Marines serving as the Sniper Platoon Commander. During his tour at MCSC, Major Buffa was selected for command of Recruiting Station Salt Lake City.
Major Buffa served as the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Salt Lake City from 2009-2012. During this tour, Major Buffa oversaw the largest contiguious USMC RS in the Nation covering all or part of six states in the Inter-Mountain West. At the end of this command tour, Maj Buffa successfully completed US Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command's Assessment and Selection program, and subsequently received orders to the Marine Special Operations Regiment (now the Marine Raider Regiment).
Major Buffa served with the Marine Special Operations Regiment from 2012 to 2014. During this tour Major Buffa deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan serving with SOJTF-A as the executive officer for the Deputy Commanding General. Upon returning from deployment, Major Buffa became the Regimental S3X. As the S3X, Major Buffa oversaw the development and implementation of a standardized Regimental training program for Advanced Special Operations. After being selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, Major Buffa received orders to the Marine Special Operations School to serve as the Operations Officer.
Major Buffa served at the Marine Special Operations School (now the Raider Training Center) as the Operations Officer from 2014-2015. As the Operations Oficer Major Buffa managed the day-to-day basic and advanced training of Marine Raiders. During this tour he was selected as the first Marine J3 Director for the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Iraq 16-1.
Lieutenant Colonel Buffa served as the J3 Director for Combine Joint Special Operations Task Force Iraq from July 2015- June of 2016. As the J3 Director, Lieutenant Colonel Buffa oversaw the day-to-day operations of all Special Operations Forces conducting combat operations against Daesh/ISIS in Iraq. During this tour Lieutenant Colonel Buffa was selected for Command of the Inspector Instructor Staff, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion.
LtCol Buffa served two years from July 2016 to July of 2018 as the Inspector Instructor of 4th Reconnaissance Battalion. During this tour LtCol Buffa rebuilt the Command’s training program with a focus on long range patrolling, advanced communications, sniper operations and advanced military free-fall parachuting. During this tour LtCol Buffa was selected to attend the US Army War College.
LtCol Buffa graduated with distinction from the US Army War College in June of 2019. Upon graduation, LtCol Buffa received orders to United States Central Command where he served in the J5 Plans Division as the Deputy Branch Chief, Violent Extremist Organizations. Promoted to Colonel in January of 2021, Col Buffa was subsequently assigned to CJTF-OIR as the J2 Director from June 2021 to June of 2022.
Colonel Buffa's personal awards include the Bronze Star medal w/V, the Defense Meritorious Service medal, the Meritorious Service medal w/2 gold stars, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation medal w/2 gold stars, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement medal w/V and 3 gold stars, and the Combat Action Ribbon w/2 gold stars. Colonel Buffa is a Marine Corps Combatant Diver, and a Military Freefall Jumpmaster.
Colonel Buffa is married to Mrs. Sara Buffa an elementary school teacher. Their daughter 1LT Laura Buffa is a Platoon Leader in the 330th Movement Control Battalion.