Sergeant Maj. Brian K. Jackson is a native of Gary, Ind. He began basic training in August 1980 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Upon graduation, Jackson attended Marine Corps Communications Electronic School in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Following graduation from Communications Electronic School, Jackson was assigned to Communications Support Company, 9th Communications Battalion, Twentynine Palms. In 1982 Jackson received orders to Company B, Schools Battalion, Twentynine Palms as a communications instructor. In 1984 Jackson was ordered to Drill Instructor School at MCRD San Diego, and was subsequently assigned to 3rd Recruit Training Bn. as a drill instructor. Upon completion of his duties as a drill instructor, Jackson was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 4, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the communications chief from 1986 to 1987. Jackson transferred to Hawaii in 1987, where he served with Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, Marine Aircraft Group 24, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as the radio chief/communications chief. After participating in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, he received orders back to Okinawa, Japan in 1992, where he served as a radio chief, then as the company first sergeant with Service Company, 7th Communications Bn.

Following this tour, Jackson was assigned to Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Pacific, Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Calif. where he served as the communications instructor/instructor trainer.

Selected to first sergeant in 1996, he received orders to 3rd Assault Amphibian Bn., 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif. where he served as the Headquarters and Service Company, company first sergeant. Upon selection to sergeant major in 2000, he received orders to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, MAG-16, MCAS Miramar.

During this tour of duty in 2001-2002, Jackson deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the Aviation Combat Element's sergeant major for Operation Enduring Freedom in support of the Global War on Terrorism. While deployed, Jackson participated in Exercise Edge Mallet in Kenya, Africa. He also participated in Operations Anaconda, and Harpoon in Bagram, Afghanistan. Following this assignment, Jackson was ordered back to Okinawa in 2002 where he served as the battalion sergeant major for 3rd Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.

Later in 2004, Jackson served as the sergeant major for Headquarters Bn., 3rd Marine Division, and as the sergeant major for Camps Courtney and McTureous. Upon completion of that assignment in 2006, Jackson received orders to MAG-16, 3rd MAW where he immediately deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served there as the Group Forward sergeant major where he oversaw 19 Marine Aviation Squadrons (in theater), comprised of units from the East Coast, West Coast, Hawaii and Okinawa; one Army Blackhawk aviation battalion, two Army Blackhawk medical companies and four Navy fighter squadrons. Although forward deployed, Jackson continued to maintain liaison and an operational presence with his remaining squadrons (of MAG-16), which remained in the rear. Upon completion of his tour of duty in Iraq, Jackson continued to serve as the MAG-16 sergeant major.