Following his graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served four years, and was deployed overseas multiple times.

[2] After leaving the Marine Corps, Stanerson attended Kirkwood Community College, where he received an Associate of Arts.

He then a received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Coe College, and a master's degree in education administration from Grand Canyon University.

He won the Republican primaries unopposed on June 5, 2012, and defeated Democratic candidate Kristin Keast in the general on November 6, 2012, by 200 votes.

[5] He won the Republican primaries unopposed on June 3, 2014, and again faced Democratic candidate Kristin Keast in the general election on November 4, whom he defeated by over 800 votes.