Colonel Estes hails from Marceline, Missouri, and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve (Delayed Entry Program) in September 1985. She graduated recruit training from Parris Island in August 1986. From August 1986 to June 1990, Colonel Estes attended Northeast Missouri State University while also drilling with a reserve supply platoon in Topeka, Kansas. She completed supply administration school, cold weather training, and officer candidate school during this period. Then-Corporal Estes graduated in May of 1990 with a B.A. in English and reported to The Basic School that fall as a second lieutenant.
From August 1990-October 1991, Colonel Estes completed TBS and the Financial Management Officers Course at Camp Johnson, North Carolina. Upon graduation, she reported to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.
From October 1991-October 1993, Colonel Estes served with the Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Yuma. She filled the roles of pay officer-in-charge, section training officer, Navy Relief executive director, and disbursing officer. Colonel Estes married her husband, Hans, during this period and gave birth to son Andrew. Shortly after augmentation, Colonel Estes received orders to Headquarters Marine Corps.
From October 1993 to August 1995, Colonel Estes served as the Defense Accounting Officer at Henderson Hall. She was also selected to attend the Funded Law Program.
From August 1995-May 1998, Colonel Estes attended law school at George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia. She worked one summer at Headquarters Marine Corps Judge Advocate Division and one summer at the Quantico Law Center. Her younger son, Luke, was born during her second year of law school.
From May 1998-November 1998, Colonel Estes took the Virginia Bar exam and attended Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. She graduated with honors and received her acceptance to the Virginia Bar on the same day. Colonel Estes executed orders to Okinawa, Japan.
From November 1998-June 2001, Colonel Estes served with the 3d Force Service Support Group in Okinawa. She worked as a prosecutor, FSSG staff secretary, and military justice officer during her time in Japan. During this period, Colonel Estes graduated with honors from a short course in criminal law at the Army JAG school in Charlottesville, Virginia. Colonel Estes departed Okinawa in June 2001 with orders to The Basic School staff via Naval Justice School’s Staff Judge Advocate course. While at NJS, Colonel Estes returned briefly to Okinawa to prosecute one last case. She arrived back in Quantico in late June 2001.
From June 2001-August 2004, Colonel Estes served as the SJA at TBS. Her duties included 10 hours of platform instruction for each officer class. While retaining her SJA and instructor responsibilities, Colonel Estes held multiple other billets to include twice serving as the M Company Commander, once as the I Company Commander, and as the protocol officer. She also traveled to Afghanistan as part of a SecDef Task Force investigating detainee abuse.
From August 2004-June 2005, Colonel Estes attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College. She served as her conference group leader and final exercise leader. During this period, she was selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel and received orders to Parris Island, South Carolina.
From June 2005-July 2009, Colonel Estes worked at Parris Island. She initially served as the Staff Judge Advocate and Law Center Director. From November 2007 to July 2009, Colonel Estes commanded Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD, Parris Island. She received orders back to Okinawa after relinquishing command.
From July 2009-present, Colonel Estes has remained on Okinawa. She spent one year as the III MEF staff secretary and two years as the Division Staff Judge Advocate. For approximately five months, Colonel Estes assumed additional responsibilities as the MEF SJA. She participated in Operation TOMODACHI as the JTF SJA and went with Division to Balikatan ‘12. Colonel Estes assumed command of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Camp Smedley D. Butler, during June 2012.