ABOUT
Marlin is a decorated combat veteran; current Lieutenant Colonel in the Maryland Army National Guard and former Deputy for the Maryland Vaccine Equity Task Force, labor Union attorney, and a Community Liaison for Delegate Wanika B. Fisher, (D) 47B, Assistant Majority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates.
Marlin has served in the Army National Guard for over 22 years and earned the Bronze Star Medal for combat service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2008 – 2009. Most recently, Marlin was the Deputy for the Maryland Vaccine Equity Task Force, which was responsible for conducting 800+ vaccinations events, administering 150, 000+ vaccinations across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. Specifically in Prince George’s County and 20783, he coordinated 237 vaccination events, 68,728 vaccinations, and secured guaranteed funding for CASA DE MARYLAND to expand their COVID-19 vaccinations efforts.
Marlin is also a leader in the organized labor movement. In his work at American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), he supervises negotiations on behalf of federal employees to ensure their working conditions are ideal. In addition to his work as a soldier, Democratic Party activist, and labor attorney, he works as a Community Liaison in the Office of Delegate Wanika B. Fisher, (D) 47B, where focuses on constituent issues throughout District 47B.
More about Marlin…
Marlin was born and raised in Vidalia, LA, a small rural town in Northeast Louisiana. He was raised by a single mother along with his two brothers. Throughout his childhood, his family received various forms of government assistance to help make ends meet. Despite their humble circumstances, his grandmother, mother, and aunts were active in their local community by donating to others in the greater Vidalia area. At age 17, to pay for college, Marlin enlisted in the Army National Guard as a Private (E-1) truck driver. His selfless service during his tenure as a Private in the National Guard enabled him to receive a tuition exemption, covering the expenses of his bachelor’s degree. Based upon his service as an enlisted soldier, he was accepted into the Louisiana Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, upon completion of which he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.
In 2003, Marlin graduated from Southern University A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA, cum laude in Political Science. While at Southern University, he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi® , Fraternity, Inc. Marlin, who had ambitions to become the first in his family to pursue a post-graduate degree, applied unsuccessfully to multiple law schools. Despite being a campus leader and obtaining his bachelor’s degree with honors, Marlin lacked the necessary tools and resources to gain law school admittance.
In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Louisiana. Marlin and his Army National Guard unit served in New Orleans and Lake Charles to assist his fellow Louisianans. Following that mission, he served in Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize on a New Horizon Mission assisting these countries with building schools and other infrastructure projects. He was awarded the Army Humanitarian Service Medal for his efforts in Central America. Based upon his performance on that assignment he was selected for Company Command.
In 2007, Marlin took command of Co. E. 1-244th AHB, and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008 – 2009. Marlin received a Bronze Star Medal for his command of Co. E. 1-244th AHB in Iraq. Subsequently, after obtaining the necessary tools and resources, he was accepted to law school at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law in Durham, NC. While attending NCCU, he was a member of the Law Review and graduated cum laude in 2012. Marlin also mentored youth and participated in projects to advance the local Durham community during his attendance at NCCU. In law school, Marlin met his future wife, a fellow law student attending a different university.
After finishing law school and passing the Maryland bar on the first attempt, Marlin had trouble finding employment due to the devastating economic recession. Through countless networking efforts and with veterans’ preference he created an opportunity for himself and obtained a job as a labor/employment specialist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. Upon arriving in Montgomery County, he became a precinct official and later a member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC). After an unsuccessfully campaign for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 19, Marlin and his family moved to Hyattsville, where he began working for current Delegate Wanika B. Fisher.
While practicing labor and employment law, Marlin came to appreciate helping others improve their working conditions. To have a more direct impact on the advancement of everyday working conditions, Marlin transitioned to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a labor union, where he currently works in coaching, directing, and supervising national collective bargaining. Marlin is still an active military member, serving our country as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Maryland Army National Guard with over 22 years of military service attending his drills in Baltimore, MD. In addition to his work as a soldier, Democratic Party activist, and labor attorney, he works as a Community Liasion for Delegate Wanika B. Fisher, (D) 47B, focusing on constituent issues. Previously, during the 2017 Legislative session, Marlin volunteered in the office of State Senator Roger Manno assisting with veterans and labor legislation. Marlin, his wife and new daughter currently live in Hyattsville, MD.