Captain Austin Jackson, USN
Interim Commandant of Midshipmen
United States Naval Academy
CAPT Austin ‘AJ’ Jackson is from Cavecreek, AZ and is a 1999 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) with class 227, graduating as the Honor Man.
His operational assignments and combat deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have included duty as an Assistant Platoon Commander at SEAL Team THREE from 2000 to 2003, MARK V Special Boat Detachment Officer-in-Charge from 2003 to 2005, and Platoon Commander at SEAL Team FIVE, until 2007. CAPT Jackson was screened and selected to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), where he served and deployed as Troop Commander and Executive Officer at multiple Squadrons for six years.
In 2014, CAPT Jackson was hand-selected as a Special Operations Command representative to the National Capital Region. In 2016, he took command of a SEAL Squadron at NSWDG, leading a joint force through multiple deployments and exercises. Following command, he became Head Director of Selection and Training at NSWDG, responsible for training and mentoring new candidates and developing advanced capabilities and tactics.
In June 2018, CAPT Jackson was assigned to Special Operations Command Pacific as the Director for Operations, responsible for the planning and execution of all Joint Special Force Operations in the INDOPACOM Theater. He transferred to Naval Special Warfare Group Eight in September 2021 where he served as the Deputy Commodore. After leading multiple undersea Task Force missions, he moved back to Alexandria, Virginia where he served as the Director of Requirements at the Research Development Support Activity responsible for integrating strategic capabilities in support of global intelligence activities. He is currently assigned as the Interim Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy.
CAPT Jackson's educational background consists of a Bachelors in Economics from USNA and Masters in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also has both Level I and II of Joint Professional Military Education and attended the Joint Special Operations University’s Interagency Speciality Course and Stanford SOF Executive Leaders School.
His Awards include Distinguished Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Stars (with Combat Valor), Defense Meritorious Service Medals, Meritorious Service Medals, Combat Action Ribbons, and various unit awards and personal qualifications.
