Colonel Jason Duke, United States Marine Corps (USMC) presently serves as the Marine Aviation Detachment (MAD) Executive Officer for NAS Patuxent River, MD. He is a native of Santa Rosa, California and first entered the United States Marine Corps in December 2001 upon completion of OCC-178. Following The Basic School and flight training, he was designated a Naval Aviator in March 2004 and reported to Camp Pendleton. He completed SERE school, initial qualification in the UH-1N “Huey” and reported to the “Gunfighters” of HMLA-369 where he deployed three times to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in various billets, to include squadron Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI).
Captain Duke began his acquisition journey in July 2009 by transitioning to the UH-1Y and AH-Z and serving as the Government Flight Representative (GFR) and Aviation Safety Officer (ASO) at DCMA Bell Helicopter. He then attended and graduated from the US Naval Test Pilot School Class 142, and proceeded to VX-31 at Naval Air Weapons Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) China Lake, CA for duties as an H-1 Project Officer, Weapon System Support Activity (WSSA) Military Deputy, H-1 Department Head, and Lead Test Pilot for multiple projects. Major Duke entered the Acquisition Professional MOS in 2013 and into the Society for Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) in 2015.
Major Duke then served as the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron ONE (MAWTS-1) Aviation Development, Tactics and Evaluation (ADT&E) Department Head, helping stand up the first NAVAIR Flight Test Engineer WTI course and graduating three NAVAIR engineers while serving as an Instructor Pilot and station Search and Rescue (SAR) Pilot. Following his department head tour, he reported to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to work at the PMA-276, PMA-275, and PMA-257 program offices to serve in various Deputy Program Manager billets managing cost, schedule, and performance in various lead roles ranging from foreign military sales (FMS) to capabilities development, and lifecycle sustainment and readiness. He served briefly as the UX-24 MQ-9 Integrated Test Team lead prior to reporting to his current assignment as the Executive Officer for the Marine Aviation Detachment Patuxent River, China Lake and Point Mugu and was promoted to his current rank January 2024.
Colonel Duke holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry from Cal Poly and an MBA from Colorado State University. He is DAWIA-Certified Advanced in Program Management; Practitioner in Test & Evaluation; Foundational in Engineering & Technical Management; and Intermediate in Security Cooperation Case Life Cycle Management. He is a graduate of the Air War College, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Expeditionary Warfare School, US Naval Test Pilot School, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, and Aviation Safety Officer Course.
Colonel Duke has logged 2,700 mishap-free flight hours in over 25 different type/model/series aircraft. His personal decorations were a direct result and privilege of working with outstanding teams and organizations over his career and include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), Strike/Flight Air Medal (15), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various campaign and unit awards. He also received the 2022 “MCAA John Glenn Squadron LtGen Michael A. Hough Acquisition Officer of the Year” and the 2010 “DCMA Aviation Operations ASO of the Year” awards. He is married to Jaimee’ Duke of Cloverdale, CA and they have a daughter, Amaya (20) and son, Andrew (16). The Duke family currently resides in Leonardtown, Maryland.