Cmdr. Jason Knox
Commanding Officer, USS Milwaukee (LCS 5)
17 May 2022
Cmdr. Jason Knox of Jacksonville, Florida graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. Following commissioning, he reported to USS Denver (LPD 9) for his first sea tour. While assigned to USS Denver, he served as the Interior Communications Division Officer and Weapons Officer. He completed a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Following his first sea tour, Knox joined the crew of USS Stout (DDG 55) as the Damage Control Assistant. He participated in a Partnership of the Americas deployment to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility where the ships of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group built cooperative bridges with several Latin American Navies. He also completed a deployment to U.S. Fifth Fleet where the ship conducted counter-piracy operations. Knox’s next assignment at sea was aboard USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) as Chief Engineer. He completed an Africa Partnership Station deployment that took the ship into numerous nations on the east coast of Africa to provide cooperative training and engagement. During this deployment, the ship also worked with Standing NATO Maritime Group Two in extensive counter-piracy operations.
Next, he served as the First Lieutenant aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8) where he completed a deployment to U.S. Fifth Fleet that included theater security cooperation and amphibious operations missions with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Most recently, he was Executive Officer of USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) when the ship was prepared to perform the Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission in a COVID-19 environment.
Ashore, Knox served as the Foreign Liaison Officer Program Manager and as an Action Officer at U.S. Fleet Forces Command. He was also assigned to the staff of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) where he oversaw a portfolio of policies and programs that serve Sailors, Marines and their families. Next, he served on the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet, in Manama, Bahrain, as the Deputy Integrated Air and Missile Defense Officer, and as a Surface Operations officer. Next, he served as a Defense Fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives where he worked on issues relevant to the Committees on Armed Services and Homeland Security.
Most recently, he served on the staff of Afloat Training Group Mayport and as Chief Staff Officer of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two. Knox is a graduate of the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University (Master of International Policy and Practice). Knox assumed command of USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) on January 14, 2023 in Ponce, Puerto Rico