A native of Baltimore, MD and the son of a soldier, LtGen Rock commissioned in 1988 from the US Naval Academy. Designated a Naval Aviator in 1990, he flew the CH-46E Sea Knight while serving in HMM-263 (‘91-‘95). Following duty as the Air Officer for 3rd Bn, 8th Mar (‘95-‘96) and deployment to Liberia, he returned to the cockpit as a flight instructor at HMT-204 (‘97).
Selected to conduct MV-22 Osprey operational testing at HMX-1 (‘97-‘00), he was then a flight instructor at VMMT-204 (‘00-‘03) and “plankowner” for the Corps' first operational test squadron, VMX-22 (‘03-‘05). Returning from 2d MAW (Forward) G-3 (Plans) in Iraq (‘05), he took command of VMM-263, the Marine Corps' first operational MV-22B squadron and deployed to Iraq in support of OIF (‘06-‘08).
LtGen Rock graduated from the National War College (‘08-‘09), followed by command at VMMT-204, the Joint USMC/USAF MV-22B training squadron (‘09-‘11). Subsequent O-6 duties included the Joint Staff J-5 Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (Deputy Directorate-Asia) (‘11-‘13) and the Aviation Expeditionary Enabler Branch Chief and V-22 Cell Lead at Headquarters Marine Corps (‘13-‘14).
General Officer assignments include Assistant Wing Commander and interim Commanding General of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (‘14-‘15). He then served in Joint duty as the J5 - Director of Strategy, Policy, & Plans for US Southern Command (‘15-‘17). Shifting to Okinawa, Japan, LtGen Rock served as the 27th Commanding General of Marine Corps Installations Pacific - Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler (‘17-‘19), and later as Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (‘19-‘20). LtGen Rock returned from Japan to serve as Director of Strategy and Plans, HQMC Plans, Policies and Operations (‘20-‘21) followed by Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (‘21-‘23).
Prior to his current assignment, LtGen Rock was the 33rd Commandant of the National War College, National Defense University, Washington D.C (’23-’24).