TACTICAL TRAINING GROUP PACIFIC
Captain Dennis J. Jacko
U.S. Navy
Executive Officer
A native of Sayreville, New Jersey, CAPT Dennis Jacko is a 1994 graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, earning a BS in Marine Transportation, an unlimited tonnage USCG 3rd Mates License and designation as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED-1). He also has civilian experience on six US flagged merchant vessels.
CAPT Jacko’s first assignment following SWOSDOC was as a Deck Division Officer and Navigator on USS SEATTLE (AOE-3), completing a Mediterranean and Persian Gulf deployment as part of GEORGE WASHINGTON Battle Group. His following tour was as Combat Information Center Officer and Communications Officer on USS HEWITT (DD 966) in San Diego, conducting a Middle East Force deployment in 1999. On his subsequent shore duty he then served as an instructor and Surface Syndicate war game coordinator at Tactical Training Group Pacific.
Following Department Head school, CAPT Jacko reported to USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD 52) as the 1st Lieutenant, conducting a wartime deployment as part of Amphibious Task Force West for the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He later reported to his second DH tour as the 1st Lieutenant on USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) where he again deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, and served in Umm Qasr as the CTF 58 liaison officer responsible for coordinating Iraqi Navy operations.
CAPT Jacko reported to the Commander, Naval Surface Force staff in November 2005 where he was assigned to the N40 code and was responsible for the coordination of the Surface Warfare Enterprise. He also completed an Individual Augment to US Central Command where he served as the Team Chief in the Joint Operations Center for the CENTCOM AOR.
Returning to USS PEARL HARBOR as the Executive Officer in June of 2009, CAPT Jacko completed another West Pac deployment in 2010, conducting Theater Security Cooperation engagements with Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, and Kuwait, as well as conducting counter piracy operations off of the Horn of Africa.
CAPT Jacko took command of USS NEW ORLEANS in June of 2011, taking the ship through final basic phase certification and advanced integrated training as part of COMPHIBRON ONE with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked. Deploying in November of 2011, NEW ORLEANS participated in TSC engagements in Cambodia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as participating in counter piracy operations and supporting CENTCOM’s Crisis Response Element operations in 5thh Fleet AOR.
In January of 2013, he reported to Expeditionary Strike Group 3 in San Diego as the Operations Officer, which certified as Amphibious Task Force Commander and as Commander Maritime Prepositioning Force. He then served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations at U.S. 3rd Fleet, from May of 2015 to May 2017. For his major command tour, CAPT Jacko was the commanding officer of USS Anchorage (LPD 23) from July 2017 to August of 2019, deploying across 7th and 5th Fleet AORs to 6th Fleet in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn for Libya contingency operations.
CAPT Jacko was assigned as the Sea Combat Commander Director at Tactical Training Group Pacific, prior to assuming duties as the Executive Officer.
His decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit (2), Meritorious Service Medal (4), Navy Commendation Medal(4), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (3), Atlantic Fleet Junior Officer Shiphandling award, and the Commander Naval Surface Force Tactician of the Year award.
CAPT Jacko is married to the former Miss Michelle Majchrzak of Buffalo NY, a successful securities attorney in San Diego.