Colonel Jenny A. Colegate enrolled in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program at the University of Arizona in January 1998. In December 1999, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Second Lieutenant Colegate graduated from The Basic School in September 2000, and immediately reported to the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course in Pensacola, Florida.
In January 2001, she reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 (MALS) in Miramar, California, where she was assigned as the Airframes Officer. While attached to MALS-16, she served as the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer for Combined Arms Exercise 01-02, and served aboard the SS Curtiss for the T-AVB Exercise 2001. In December 2001, First Lieutenant Colegate was assigned as the Maintenance Material Control Officer for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462). During this tour, she deployed to Okinawa, Japan in 2002 under the Unit Deployment Program and to Kuwait in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In July 2004, Captain Colegate transferred to Parris Island, South Carolina and was assigned as a Series Commander for November Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion. After six cycles, she was selected to serve as the Staff Secretary for the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Eastern Recruiting Region. In June 2007, Captain Colegate transferred to MALS-12 in Iwakuni, Japan and served as the Production Control Officer and Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer. In July 2008, Captain Colegate transferred to Cherry Point, North Carolina and served as the Rotary Wing Class Desk, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and Plans Officer for the Aviation Logistics Department, 2D Marine Aircraft Wing. During this tour, she was promoted to major and deployed to Afghanistan as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer for 2D Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In October 2011, Major Colegate transferred to Marine Corps Air Station New River where she served as the Executive Officer for MALS-29.
In July 2013, she attended the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. In July 2014, she was assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola to serve as the Commanding Officer of Aviation Maintenance Squadron 1. In June 2017, she transferred to Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay to assume command of MALS-24. In July 2019, she successfully completed her command tour and transferred to U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific to assume the duties as the Aviation Logistics Division Aircraft Maintenance Officer. In July 2020, she was selected to participate in the Secretary of Defense Executive Fellowship Program by working alongside our industry partners at Sikorsky Aviation in Stratford, Connecticut. In July 2021, she transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, Department of Aviation and served as the Aviation Sustainment Branch-33 Section Head. In July 2022, she transferred to the Office of the Inspector General of the Marine Corps to serve as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Director of Investigations.
In July 2024, she assumed command of Marine Corps Installations-National Capital Region, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.