Captain Michael J. Jacobsen

United States Navy

  Captain Michael Jacobsen is a native of Uniondale, New York.  He is married to the former Anna Daphnides of Great Neck, New York.  They have four children, George, Harry, Helen, and Mary.

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1982, his first assignment was in USS BARNEY (DDG-6) where he served as Electrical Officer and Combat Information Center Officer.

Upon completion of his initial sea tour in October 1985, Captain Jacobsen was assigned to the pre-commissioning crew of USS ANTIETAM (CG-54).  As USS ANTIETAM’S Fire Control Officer, he participated in the operational and technical evaluation (OPEVAL/TECHEVAL) of the MK 41 Vertical Launching System and further on testing and evaluation (FOT&E) of the Standard Missile (SM-2) Block II and the Tomahawk Cruise Missile.

Departing USS ANTIETAM in April 1989, Captain Jacobsen attended Surface Warfare Officer School Department Head Course graduating in October 1989. His first department head tour was in USS FIFE (DD-991) where he served as Combat Systems Officer.  USS FIFE, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Transferring from USS FIFE in November 1991, Captain Jacobsen remained in Japan and served as Combat Systems Officer in DESTROYER SQUADRON 15.  CDS 15, embarked in USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62), deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Southern Watch.

Captain Jacobsen then attended the Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  In addition, he attended Webster University earning a Master of Arts Degree in Business.  Upon completion of CGSC in June 1994, Captain Jacobsen was assigned to the Joint Staff, Directorate for Intelligence (J2), where he served in a joint duty assignment until May 1996.

Captain Jacobsen then served as the Executive Officer in USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DDG-56).  During his tour, the ship shifted homeports from Pearl Harbor to Yokosuka, Japan.

Departing USS JOHN S. McCAIN in January 1998, Captain Jacobsen was assigned to Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) Command Training Department where he served as the Executive Officer Course Coordinator and the Lead Combat Systems Instructor until January 2000.

Captain Jacobsen then commanded USS CARNEY (DDG-64) from July 2000 until August 2002.  USS CARNEY deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated in Maritime Interdiction Operations helping to stem the flow of illegal oil from Iraq.  

Following his command tour, Captain Jacobsen assumed duties as the Surface Operations Officer in the JOHN F. KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group.  During this tour, he deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

In January 2005, Captain Jacobsen reported to the U.S. Naval Academy as the Director of Professional Development.  He served as PRODEV until June 2006.

Captain Jacobsen then commanded USS HUE CITY (CG-66) from November 2006 until July 2008.  He deployed to the Persian Gulf, serving as the Air Defense Commander for HARRY S. TRUMAN Carrier Strike Group. 

Captain Jacobsen currently is the Deputy N31 (Operations and Plans) on the OPNAV staff.