Marissa Carpenter

Marissa Carpenter is the Senior Vice President of Merchandising for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange), at the organization’s headquarters in Dallas, TX.

As SVP of Merchandising, Carpenter oversees all Retail Merchandise Purchasing for the Exchange’s department stores, troop stores, convenience stores, as well as down-range military retail support. Carpenter also oversees Pricing, Merchandise Operations and Store Experience.

Carpenter was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business, with an emphasis in Finance from the Trulaske College of Business.

Carpenter began her 25+ year retail career in Merchandising at the May Department Stores Co., completing the company’s highly competitive Executive Trainee program. She was part of the May Co./Macy’s merger in 2006. In 2008, she transitioned to JCPenney, where she held various leadership positions in merchandise buying, planning and allocation.

Carpenter joined the Exchange in February 2021 as Vice President of Softlines, where she developed and oversaw the implementation of merchandise strategies such as new retail partnerships with American Eagle, Gap Inc., Sunglass Hut and Bass Pro Shops.

Marissa Carpenter was promoted to SVP of Merchandising of the Exchange in June 2024.