MG Anthony Jackson

[Gov. Brown] – Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Tuesday that Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret.) has been appointed director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

“Major General Jackson brings more than thirty years of problem-solving and management experience to Parks, serving most recently as the Commanding General of Marine bases across the Southwestern U.S. and tens of thousands of troops and civilians,” said Governor Brown. “Under Major General Jackson’s leadership, I am confident that the stewardship of California’s beaches, forests, estuaries, dunes and wetlands is in good hands and that the confidence and trust of Californians in our Parks Department will be restored.”

Major General Jackson, 63, of Fallbrook, recently retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after 36 years of service. Prior to his retirement, Jackson served as the Commanding General, Marine Corps, Installations West. In this role, he was responsible for the command and control of Marine Corps installations in the Southwestern U.S., including oversight of administration, fiscal, military, construction and energy programs and the welfare of 13,000 employees and more than 60,000 Marines and sailors.

As Commanding General, Jackson has worked on a wide variety of state and federal legislative issues, including improving energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy. He routinely met with and briefed state and federal legislative leaders and elected officials on issues such as renewable energy generation, fire suppression, state parks and off-highway vehicle use. Jackson also served as Marine Corps representative and the co-chair of the Western Regional Council tasked with coordinating renewable energy development within the Department of Defense and with other stakeholders, including state and local governments. He has also served as a military advisor on national security and renewable energy for the Rockefeller Family Fund and Pew Charitable Trusts.

“Major General Jackson is the right leader for the right time for the Department of Parks and Recreation. He has considerable skills and experience and a dedication to public service,” said California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird. “In addition to his duties as commanding general, he has direct experience protecting cultural resources on sensitive U.S. Government land, directing environmental scientists, and integrating military and civilian personnel.”

Prior to his service as Commanding General, Jackson was assigned as Director of Operations and Logistics, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, from 2007 to 2009. He was the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Marine Forces, Central Command from 2005 to 2007 and Assistant Chief of Staff, G-5, First Marine Expeditionary Force deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II from 2003 to 2005. From 2002 to 2003, Jackson was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan, where he was the Division’s Chief of Staff and served concurrently as the Chief of Staff, Joint Task Force-555, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines. Prior to that, he served as the Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from 2000 to 2002.

From 1998 to 2000, he was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-7, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. In June 1998, he graduated from the United States Army War College. In 1997, Jackson completed an assignment as the Advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps on Equal Opportunity matters and as the Head of the Equal Opportunity Branch at Marine Corps Headquarters.

Jackson also served in leadership roles at: the Marine Security Forces, Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, GA; the Basic School, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, VA; National Military Command Center, J-3, Joint Staff, Washington, DC; 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Kaneohe Bay, HI; Marine Detachment, USS Long Beach, home ported in San Diego, CA; Recruit Field Training Division at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA; and the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton.

He first enlisted in the Marine Corps to attend Officer Candidate School in 1975.

In addition to graduating from the U.S. Army War College and the Armed Forces Staff College, he completed both the Amphibious Warfare School and the Marine Corps Commands and Staff College by correspondence. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in history from San Jose State University. In 2011, he was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters degree (H.C.) from the Trustees of the California State University and San Jose State University.

His personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal with two gold stars for second and third award, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star, the Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver and bronze stars, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze star and the Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon.

This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $150,112. Jackson is registered decline-to-state.