Major General Savage enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1986, is a graduate of California State University, Chico, and was commissioned in August 1991. He is a graduate of The Basic School, the Infantry Officer Course, the U.S. Army Infantry Captains Career Course (honor graduate), the Marine Corps Command and Staff Course (distinguished graduate) , the School of Advanced Warfighting, the Naval War College (with distinction), and the United Kingdom Higher Command and Staff Course. He has also completed U.S. Army Ranger School, U.S. Army Airborne School, and the USMC Basic Reconnaissance Course.
His service in the Operating Forces includes: Platoon Commander with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (June 1992-June 1994); Company Executive Officer with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (June 1994-January 1996); Logistics Officer,
Company Commander, and Operations Officer for 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (May 1999-August 2002); Aide de Camp to the Commanding General I Marine Expeditionary Force (August 2002-June 2004); G-3 Operations Officer 1st Marine Division (July 2006-June 2007); Operations Officer and Executive Officer for 1st Marine Regiment (June 2007-January 2010); Commanding Officer for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (January 2010-January 2012); Commanding Officer Headquarters Battalion 1st Marine Division (January 2012- June 2012); Commanding Officer for 2nd Marine Regiment (August 2014-March 2016); Assistant Division Commander, 2D Marine Division (March 2016- June 2016); Deputy Commanding General I Marine Expeditionary Force/Commanding General 1st Expeditionary Brigade (July 2019 - May 2021). His most recent tour was serving as Deputy Director for Operations, USAFRICOM (May 2021 – July 2023).
His service outside the Operating Forces includes duty as an Amphibious Raid Instructor at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic from January 1996 to May 1997, and as the Assistant Officer in Charge of the Amphibious Reconnaissance School from August 1997 to January 1998.
From September 2013 to June 2014 he served as a Fellow on the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group. He served as a Strategic Plans Advisor for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans, Office of Secretary of Defense (Policy) from June 2016 to July 2018, and as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps from July 2018 to July 2019.