Major Butler was born on August 24, 1965 in Columbus, Georgia. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in June of 1983 and stayed in the reserves while attending North Georgia College from 1983 to 1985. At this point, he augmented to active duty in the Marine Corps and remained on active duty for the next eight years. While on active duty he served with 3rd Battalion 5th Marines as a field radio operator. During his three-year tour here, he completed two deployments to Okinawa. He then received orders to 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion to finish the remainder of his 1st four-year obligation. He then reenlisted for orders to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company for the next four years. While serving with Force Recon, he participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as a member of 5th Platoon from August 1990 to March 1991. During his tour in the Persian Gulf, he provided the Saudi Royal Marines with professional instruction in all aspects of communications; he earned the combat action ribbon for evading an Iraqi mechanized battalion during the battle of Khafji and for team involvement in Operation Clouseau, a pre-assault infiltration into Kuwait.

He then completed a six-month deployment on the USS LPD Duluth as part of the South West Asia (SWA) Cease-fire campaign, Persian Gulf with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Command (MEU (SOC)) from January 1992 to July 1993. He served as the Headquarters Team Leader and Platoon Communications NCO for 5th Platoon, 1st Force Recon Company. As the former, participated in training missions of in extremis hostage rescue (IHR). Additionally he was responsible for all facets of long-range communications with teams during long-range reconnaissance missions. He participated in a combination of both IHR and deep reconnaissance patrolling training in Thailand, Kuwait, Hawaii, Philippines and Kenya.

From December 1992 to May 1993, he served as a member of the Unified Task Force Somalia as a member of the personal security detachment for Commanding General Lt Gen R. B. Johnston. As a personal bodyguard, he provided flawless 24-hour protection for Lt Gen Johnston in Mogadishu and surrounding areas of Somalia. He contributed directly to the successful visits to Somalia of President George Bush and General Colin Powell.

Once he returned from Somalia he was released from active duty and returned to Georgia to complete his degree at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. After graduation, he applied and was accepted as a candidate for a Marine Corps Commission. He attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia where he graduated and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He then attended The Officer Basic Course and the Infantry Officer Course where he received orders to 1st Battalion 4th Marines.

Major Butler served in 1st Battalion 4th Marines (1/4) as a platoon commander with Alpha Company (the small boat raid company) and made a WESTPAC deployment with the 11th MEU (SOC). Upon returning from deployment, he was assigned as the Executive Officer of Alpha Company.

Once he completed his tour with 1st Bn 4th Mar, he was reassigned as a platoon commander for 3rd Platoon 1st Force Recon Company where he served for two years and made one WESTPAC deployment with the 13th MEU (SOC). Following his tour with 1st Force Recon Company, Major Butler was assigned to Very Shallow Water Mine Counter Measures Detachment (VSW MCM Det.) at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado. During this assignment, VSW MCM Det. was commissioned as the Naval Special Clearance Team One (NSCT 1). He served with this command from May 2001 to Jan 2004 as a Dive Platoon Commander, Division Officer in Charge and Assistant Officer in Charge. From March 2003 to May 2003 he participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the NSCT 1 Operations Officer ashore for the port clearance of Umm Qasr, Iraq in preparation for humanitarian shipping. In addition, he led a mission supporting the amphibious landing of the Royal Marines at Blue beach on the Al Faw Peninsula (Operation Telic) and then led a mission to recover the body of a naval aviator shot down near Karbala requiring the destruction of the remaining F/A-18 wreckage.

In February 2004, he deployed to Okinawa Japan to join 1st Battalion 5th Marines. From Okinawa, he deployed with the battalion to Al Kharma, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II from March 2004 to July 2004. During this deployment, he initially served as the Information Operations Officer and was then given command of Weapons Company May 5, 2004. From February 2005 to October 2005 he participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom III in Ar Ramadi, Iraq where he led Weapons Company as the Mobile Assault Company and Battalion Quick Reaction Force (QRF).

Major Butler is currently living in Centreville, Maryland with his wife Cathy and son Connor.

Major Butler is entitled to wear the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (third award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal among his personal decorations.