Colonel Maese was commissioned a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant on 24 May 2002, having completed her undergraduate education in English at the United States Naval Academy.
Upon completion of The Basic School in January 2003, Second Lieutenant Maese reported to Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) at Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, NC to serve as the Adjutant/Legal Officer. In December 2003, she deployed to serve as the Adjutant, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, Djibouti, Africa.
In June 2004, First Lieutenant Maese transferred to serve as the Adjutant, Marine Corps Forces Central Command - Djibouti. In January 2005, she returned to New River to serve as the MAG-26 Rear Detachment Assistant Officer-in-Charge, Adjutant, and Family Readiness Officer during the MAG’s deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06. Upon the unit’s return, she served as the MAG-26 Adjutant.
In July 2006, First Lieutenant Maese transferred to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii, Kaneohe, HI and served as the Adjutant, Combat Service Support Group 3 until April 2007. In April 2007, Captain Maese served as the Adjutant, MCB Hawaii until she deployed to Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I)
in March 2008. From March 2008 until October 2008, she served as Strategic Engagements Economic Development Advisor, MNF-I, Baghdad, Iraq. Upon return from deployment, she served as the Adjutant, Headquarters Battalion (HQBN). From February 2009 until February 2010, she served as Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company. From February 2010 through October 2010, Captain Maese served as the Executive Officer, HQBN.
In November 2010, Captain Maese reported to Wounded Warrior Regiment, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA where she served as the Current Operations Officer. In May 2012, she transferred to serve as a Company Grade Assignments Monitor, Manpower Management Officer Assignments, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps. Upon promotion to Major, she served as the Deputy Ground Lieutenant Colonel Assignment Monitor until her transfer to study at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in July 2014, during which she earned a Masters in Military Studies.
In July 2015, Major Maese transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA to serve as the Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion. On 31 May 2017, she transferred to serve as the Executive Officer, Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA until April 2018.
In April 2018, Major Maese transferred to the Pentagon where she served as the Staff Secretary, Deputy Commandant for Information. In July 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Maese transferred to serve as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1 for Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration and the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. During this assignment, she concurrently studied as a Seminar XXI Fellow with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In June 2020, she assumed command of Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. In June 2022, she relinquished command and transferred to Annapolis, MD to serve as Chief of Staff of the Marine Detachment at the United States Naval Academy.
In July 2024, Colonel Maese transferred to serve as a Federal Executive Fellow, Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. In June 2025, she transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
Colonel Maese’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5th award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd Award).
Colonel Tracy Maese is married to Colonel Rogelio Maese of El Paso, TX.