A Colorado native, Zach Hornbaker commissioned in 2006 through the Platoon Leaders Class. Lieutenant Hornbaker attended The Basic School in 2007 and Logistics Officer's Course in 2008.
In 2008, Lieutenant Hornbaker reported to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California. During this tour he served as a truck platoon commander, truck company executive officer, and truck company commander. He also deployed to Iraq for 12 months as the logistics officer and assistant operations officer for Regional Border Team - North.
In 2011, Captain Hornbaker reported to Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG) in Twentynine Palms, California, where he served as the assistant officer-in-charge of the Motorized Operations Training Section and officer-in-charge of the Logistics Operations Training Section. During this tour, he transitioned the Marine Corps' service-level training exercise from Enhanced Mojave Viper (EMV) to Integrated Training Exercise (ITX).
From 2014 to 2015 Captain Hornbaker attended resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia where he was a distinguished graduate.
In 2015, Captain Hornbaker reported to the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Assistant Logistics Officer. He deployed with the 22d MEU in support of operations in 5th and 6th Fleets.
In 2017, Major Hornbaker reported to Site Support Aurora, Colorado, where he served with Combat Logistics Battalion 453 as the assistant battalion inspector-instructor, Headquarters Company inspector-instructor, battalion operations officer, and battalion executive officer.
From 2020 to 2021, Major Hornbaker attended the Army's Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he graduated with honors. He remained in Fort Leavenworth and attended Army's School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) from 2021 to 2022.
In 2022, Major Hornbaker reported to III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the G-3 plans officer. His planning portfolio included crisis and contingency planning, joint and naval integration, and operationalization of the Marine Corps' Concept for Stand-In-Forces. In 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker was promoted to his current rank.
In 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker reported to 2d Marine Logistics Group, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Command Inspector General prior to taking command of Combat Logistics Battalion 24 in March 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker is a graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School (DEP and resident), Marine Corps Command and Staff College (DEP), Army Command and General Staff College, and Army School of Advanced Military Studies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental, Population, Organismic Biology and Political Science from the University of Colorado, and graduate degrees from the US Army Command and General Staff College.
Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with three gold stars.
A Colorado native, Zach Hornbaker commissioned in 2006 through the Platoon Leaders Class. Lieutenant Hornbaker attended The Basic School in 2007 and Logistics Officer's Course in 2008.
In 2008, Lieutenant Hornbaker reported to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California. During this tour he served as a truck platoon commander, truck company executive officer, and truck company commander. He also deployed to Iraq for 12 months as the logistics officer and assistant operations officer for Regional Border Team - North.
In 2011, Captain Hornbaker reported to Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG) in Twentynine Palms, California, where he served as the assistant officer-in-charge of the Motorized Operations Training Section and officer-in-charge of the Logistics Operations Training Section. During this tour, he transitioned the Marine Corps' service-level training exercise from Enhanced Mojave Viper (EMV) to Integrated Training Exercise (ITX).
From 2014 to 2015 Captain Hornbaker attended resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia where he was a distinguished graduate.
In 2015, Captain Hornbaker reported to the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Assistant Logistics Officer. He deployed with the 22d MEU in support of operations in 5th and 6th Fleets.
In 2017, Major Hornbaker reported to Site Support Aurora, Colorado, where he served with Combat Logistics Battalion 453 as the assistant battalion inspector-instructor, Headquarters Company inspector-instructor, battalion operations officer, and battalion executive officer.
From 2020 to 2021, Major Hornbaker attended the Army's Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he graduated with honors. He remained in Fort Leavenworth and attended Army's School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) from 2021 to 2022.
In 2022, Major Hornbaker reported to III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the G-3 plans officer. His planning portfolio included crisis and contingency planning, joint and naval integration, and operationalization of the Marine Corps' Concept for Stand-In-Forces. In 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker was promoted to his current rank.
In 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker reported to 2d Marine Logistics Group, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Command Inspector General prior to taking command of Combat Logistics Battalion 24 in March 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker is a graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School (DEP and resident), Marine Corps Command and Staff College (DEP), Army Command and General Staff College, and Army School of Advanced Military Studies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental, Population, Organismic Biology and Political Science from the University of Colorado, and graduate degrees from the US Army Command and General Staff College.
Lieutenant Colonel Hornbaker’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with three gold stars.