Major Rafiel Deon Warfield is a native Missourian. He graduated from Missouri State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University in 2008 with certificates from the SUCOL Clinic, International Law Program and the National Security and Counterterrorism program. Maj Warfield was commissioned in the Marine Corps through the direct commissioning program in 2009.
As an active duty United States Marine Judge Advocate Maj Warfield has served as a prosecutor for 1st Marine Division disposing of cases which ranged from larceny and drug trafficking to attempted murder. He also served as the Battalion Staff Judge Advocate for 11th Marines during the United Nations Training exercise, Khaan Quest, which took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
In 2012, Maj Warfield deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan where he served as the Senior Defense Counsel and legal assistance primary for Regional Command Southwest. While deployed forward, he traveled throughout the RC southwest battle space and provided legal representation to Marines facing adverse judicial and administrative action for alleged violations of the UCMJ as well as the Law of War and Rules of Engagement. In August of 2013, Maj Warfield transitioned to Guam where he served as the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for Marine Corps Activity Guam (MCAG) and the Marine Corps Special Assistant United States Attorney to the Federal District of Guam.
In the summer of 2015, Maj Warfield joined Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) as the Operational Law Attorney for MARFORCOM and its immediate subordinates commands. In 2016, Maj Warfield became an 0570 Marine; Foreign Security Force advisor. While at MARFORCOM, he traveled internationally executing and supporting Security Cooperation missions and was responsible for advising and instructing on issues of domestic operational law, Law of War, Rules of Engagement, Escalation of Force, and the Rules for the Use of Force. In July of 2020, Maj Warfield detached from MARFORCOM and joined the joint service judge advocate team of United States Forces Korea Command (USFK) in Yongsan, S. Korea. He is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Operational Law.
