Colonel Drake was raised in Tallahassee, Florida. He graduated and was commissioned from the United States Naval Academy in 2003.
After completing the USMC Basic Officer Course and Infantry Officer Course, he joined 2d Battalion, 6th Marine Regment, as a rifle platoon commander, weapons platoon commander, and company executive officer and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2004 and Falluja, Iraq in 2005. From 2006-2010, he was assigned to The Marine Corps Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, where he instructed newly commissioned Marine Corps Officers in infantry weapons and tactics. From 2010-2011, he attended Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School. After graduating he was assigned to 2d Battalion, 4th Marines where he served as the Commanding Officer of Company G and Weapons Company and Battalion Operations Officer. During this time the battalion deployed to Musa Qala, Afghanistan and to the Western Pacific as the battalion landing team for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. From 2014-2016, Col Drake attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting. Upon graduation, he was assigned as an operational planner to Amphibious Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5), an experimental integrated Marine Corps-Navy command located in Bahrain that supports crisis response and warfighting efforts throughout US Central Command. From 2018 to 2019, He served as the Operations Officer for 3d Reconnaissance Battalion. From 2019 to 2020, Col Drake served at 4th Marine Regiment as the Future Operations Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer. From August 2020 to June 2022 Col Drake served as the as Inspector-Instructor, 1st Battalion 24th Marines, 25th Marine Regiment. In June 2022 he was assigned as National Security Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Security Studies Program.
Col Drake is an infantry officer, reconnaissance officer, and operational planner. He is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff College (distinguished graduate), and School of Advanced Warfighting. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star with combat “V”, Meritorious Service Medal (gold stars in lieu of fourth award), Navy Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), and the Combat Action Ribbon (gold star in lieu of second award).