A native of Mountlake Terrace, Washington, Major General Kessler was commissioned a 2ndLt from the University of Washington in Seattle, on 14 June 1980.
Major General Kessler served in a variety of command and staff assignments early in his career, to include a tour as the Aide-de-Camp to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, GEN John Shalikashvili .
Upon graduation from National Defense University in 2002, Colonel Kessler was assigned to 3d Marine Division where he served as the Division G-4 and J-4 for Joint Task Force 555.
Colonel Kessler was selected for Command and assumed Command of H&S Battalion, 3d FSSG and Camp Commander, Camp Kinser, MCB, Japan in June 2003. While there, he was deployed to Sri Lanka as the Commanding Officer, Marine Logistics Regiment-2, Combat Logistics Group-Sri Lanka, JTF-536 in support of Operation Unified Assistance.
Brigadier General Kessler assumed command of 2d Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force on 25 May 2006. From January 2007 to February 2008, he deployed the 2d MLG Forward as part of II MEF Forward and Multi-National Forces-West in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Brigadier General Kessler assumed Command of Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, GA in June 2009. In July of 2011 Major General Kessler assumed command as Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations Command and concurrently served as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics (Facilities). Major General Kessler retired from the Marine Corps 1 September 2013.