Jon is a native of Washington, DC. He attended high school in Rockville, MD, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland University College in 1982. He was an ISCS(SW) on USS TICONDEROGA (CG-47) from May 1989 through July 1993 and was the Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) of the Operations Department and OT Division. TICO was one of three ships in Jon’s 23-year career. He also served in CVW-17/VA-85 on board USS FORRESTAL (CV-59) and in OZ Division on board USS NIMITZ (CVN-68). His shore tours included Naval Attache Support in NIC-03/CTF-168, as an operational intelligence analyst at the Naval Operational Intelligence Center (NAVOPINTCEN) both in Washington, DC, as a manpower analyst at the Navy Manpower Engineer Center (NAVMEC), at the Commander, Submarine Forces, Atlantic Fleet headquarters both in Norfolk, VA, at BUPERS and the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) both in Washington, DC, and as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of Naval Intelligence (CNO N2 SEA) in the Pentagon.
Following his retirement in 1998, Jon spent nearly 20 years providing logistics, acquisition, and operational support to the Office of Naval Research (ONR), as a watch supervisor at Fort Lesley J. McNair at the Joint Task Force National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington (JTF-NCR/MDW) and finally with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the communications watch officer and database administrator. After his second retirement in 2014, Jon enjoyed his dream job of working as a shift supervisor at Canyon Village Campground in Yellowstone National Park in 2015. Since then, he has supported his wife's small bridal and formal wear business in Fredericksburg, VA, where he serves as CFO, CIO, and DJS (Director of Janitorial Services).