Major General Heritage graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1990.  Earning his commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program, he was assigned as an infantry officer upon graduation from The Basic School. 

His operational assignments and commands include: 3d Battalion, 8th Marines; 3d Battalion, 2d Marines; Commanding Officer, 6th Marine Regiment; Current Operations Officer, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Iraq; Future Operations Officer, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC; Current Operations Officer, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Cyberspace Command, Fort Meade, MD.

His supporting establishment assignments and commands include: Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.; Commanding Officer, Weapons Training Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Program Analysis and Evaluation Division, Programs and Resources Department, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and most recently, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region.  His joint assignments include Future Operations Planner Headquarters, U.S. Southern Command, Miami, FL and Deputy Director for Future Operations, J-3, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, MD.

In addition to The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course, Major General Heritage is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JPME II), the Army War College and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit with gold star, Meritorious Service Medal with four gold stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Joint Service Achievement Medal.