Adam was born in Columbus, OH on 23 April 1979 and raised in West Liberty, OH. He attended Cornerstone University and graduated in 2002 with a B.S. in Environmental Biology. Soon after graduation he was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant.

 

In April 2003, 2ndLt Bonaventura report to Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA for training at The Basic School.

 

After graduating from The Basic School in October 2003, 2ndLt Bonaventura reported to US Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK for training as a Field Artillery Officer (MOS 0802).

 

Upon graduation in April 2004, 2ndLt Bonaventura reported to C Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment (C 1/12)at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, HI as an Artillery Forward Observer. As soon as he reported, his Battery was attached to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment (1/3) as a part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Okinawa, Japan.

 

In August of 2004, the MEU was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 2ndLt Bonaventura was then assigned to C Company 1/3  and in November 2004 and participated in Operation Phantom Fury (Second Battle of Fallujah). In January 2005, 2ndLt Bonaventura was promoted to 1stLt. Soon after, the unit was reassigned to provide election site security for the first Iraqi elections.

 

In April 2005, 1stLt Bonaventura returned to Hawaii and was reassigned to B Battery 1/12. In August 2005, he was deployed to Soul Korea for Exercise Ulchi Focus Lense.  Upon his return, 1stLt Bonaventura was assigned to K Company 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment as the Headquarters Platoon Commander and deployed to Haditha, Iraq from Feb 2006 – oct 2006.

 

In Feb 2007, 1stLt Bonaventura deployed with 1/12 as Task Force Military police and coordinated the detention and transport of detainees for Multi-National Forces West, Iraq. During his time there, he was promoted to Captain.

 

Upon his return to Hawaii in oct 2007, Capt Bonaventura was assigned as the Assistant Battalion Liaison Officer for 1/12.

 

In July 2008, Capt Bonaventura transferred to the reserves and was hired by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a Law Enforcement Officer. He also joined 4th ANGLICO (Air/Naval Gun Fire Liaison Company) in West Palm Beach, FL. During his time there he attended Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) School and was certified as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC).

 

In Jan 2012, Capt Bonaventura was selected for Batter Command and took command of N Battery 5th Battalion 14th Marine Regiment at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, CA. He was promoted to Major in 2013 and soon was assigned as the Battalion Executive Officer.

 

In Dec 2014, Maj Bonaventura transferred to the Marine Air/Ground Task Force Staff Training Program (MSTP) at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. He served as a Targeting Officer there until 2018 when he received orders to Marine Corps Forces Central Command at MacDill, AFB as the Future Operations Officer. During his time there he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and in 2020 deployed to HQ, 5th Fleet at NSA Bahrain as the Fleet Marine Officer.

 

LtCol Bonaventura retired in June 2023, after serving 22 years. Upon retirement, he worked at US Central Command as a Senior Joint Planner until he was hired as the Senior Naval Instructor at Winter Park High School NJROTC.

 

His awards include (2x) Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.

 

LtCol Bonaventura is married to the former Carolyn Dowd from Winter Springs, FL. He has three children; son Andrew (12), daughter Katelyn (10), and son Eric (7).