Major General Amos graduated from the University of Idaho in 1970. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1971 and has held a variety of operational and staff assignments since 1972.

Operational assignments include tours with Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 212, 235, 232 and 122 where he flew the F-4 Phantom II. In 1985 Major General Amos assumed Command of Marine Air Base Squadron 24, later recommissioning it as Marine Wing Support Squadron 173. Completing Hornet transition in 1991, he assumed command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 and subsequently joined Carrier Air Wing Eight onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). It was during this tour that VMFA-312 earned the Hanson Trophy as the Marine Corps' "Fighter Squadron of the Year." Major General Amos assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 Beaufort, SC in May 1996. During his two years in command, MAG-31 led the Marine Corps' Aviation Campaign Plan initiatives while deploying squadrons to combat both in the Balkans and the Persian Gulf areas.

Major General Amos' staff assignments include tours on the staffs of Marine Aircraft Groups 15 and 31, and as the G-4 Logistics Plans Officer, III Marine Amphibious Force. He also served as both a flight instructor and Aircraft Maintenance Officer for Training Squadron Seven in Meridian, MS. Reassigned to The Basic School in 1988 he served as the Chief Instructor, Command and Leadership Group, and the Operations Officer. In 1993 he joined the team of the MAGTF Staff Training Program (MSTP) in Quantico, VA, serving as the Deputy Director. Promoted to Brigadier General in 1998 he assumed duties as Deputy Commander, Naval Striking Forces, Southern Europe, and as Deputy Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces, Europe, Naples Italy. During this tour he served as the on-scene Commander during the evacuation of the American Embassy in Tirana, Albania, Commander of NATO's Kosovo Verification Coordination Center, and as Chief of Staff, U.S. Joint Task Force Noble Anvil during Operation Allied Force.

Major General Amos was transferred in 2000 to the Pentagon where he was assigned as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation. Reassigned in December 2001, he served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations Department (Code PL), Headquarters, Marine Corps. MajGen Amos assumed command of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing on 9 August 2002.

Major General Amos is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA and the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well as numerous campaign and service awards.