The citation, given each year at the National Cargo Security Council's annual conference in June, recognizes Jackson's work as the Army's Director of Logistics and Engineering for all of Southwest Asia, with emphasis on Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq. Jackson is currently the Director for Logistics Transformation in ORNL's National Security Directorate.
The citation recognizes Jackson's "skillful management of the largest, most successful, and efficient transfer of materials and equipment in the shortest time span in military history."
Jackson began his 34-year military service in 1969 in the 1st Battalion, 36th Armor, where he was a platoon leader, company executive officer and company commander. After becoming a logistician in 1972, Jackson transferred to the Ordnance Corps., ultimately becoming the U.S. Army's Chief of Ordnance in 1998.
In his last military assignment as Director of Logistics and Engineering for United States Central Command, Jackson's responsibilities included crisis planning and military operations in a 25 nation region stretching from Kenya to Kazakhstan. In this position, he directed a staff of 150 people, integrating $8.2 billion in support and sustainment programs for 390,000 U.S. and coalition soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.
Jackson also recently received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, an award only exceeded in precedence by the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross.
After retiring from the Army, Jackson became the director for logistics transformation at ORNL in January 2004.
Jackson earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming and an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology. He has also completed education programs in acquisition and manufacturing at the Defense Management College and National Defense University, where he earned a master's degree equivalent in Strategic Logistics and Operations.
Jackson and his wife, Esther, are natives of Cheyenne, Wyo., and currently reside in Knoxville, Tennessee.
ORNL is a DOE multiprogram research facility managed by UT-Battelle.
Written by Amy Merrick