A native of Dallas, Texas, Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn graduated from Texas A&M University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 2009 through the Platoon Leaders Class.
Upon completion of The Basic School and the Combat Engineer Officers Course, he reported to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in September 2010. While at 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, 2ndLt Vaughn deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF 11.1 as an individual augment to Il Marine Expeditionary Force Forward. After returning from the deployment, he was assigned the duties of Platoon Commander, 1st Platoon, Company A and S-4A.
In August 2013, 1stLt Vaughn moved to Okinawa, Japan and was assigned to 3d Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3d Marine Logistics Group. He immediately took command of Engineer Maintenance Company and was promoted to Captain.
In May 2014, Captain Vaughn transferred to 9th Engineer Support Battalion and took command of Engineer Support Company. During his time as Company Commander of Engineer Support Company, Captain Vaughn deployed his company to Korea in support of Korean Military Exchange Program 15.9.
Following a successful Company Command tour in Okinawa, he returned from overseas in June 2016 and was assigned as Inspector Instructor, Site Support Phoenix, Bulk Fuel Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion.
In July 2019, Captain Vaughn transferred to Training and Education Command to serve as the Logistics Combat Element Section Head within Policy and Standard Division and was promoted to Major.
In June 2022, Major Vaughn transferred to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion as the Battalion Executive Officer. While at 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, he deployed with the battalion to Norway and Sweden in support of Marine Rotational Force - Europe 23.1.
In June 2024, Major Vaughn reported to II Marine Expeditionary Force to serve as the Staff Secretary. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in March 2025.
In June 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn transferred to 3d Marine Logistics Group to serve as the G-3 Operations Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn is a graduate of Command and Staff College and Expeditionary Warfare School distance education programs. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star. Major Vaughn also received a Master of Arts in Leadership and Management from Webster University.