Major Marlon Ayers, USAF, (Ret.) is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana with a combined 22 years of enlisted and officer experience in the United States Army and the United States Air Force. He has served as an educator for a combined 14 years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, teaching regular education and special education students. He has served three combat tours, one in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. Major Ayers is married to the former Shannon Johnson of New Orleans, La.  They have four children; three girls (Taylor, Lesley, and Sydney) and one son (Marlon Jr.).