Lieutenant Colonel Jason Hvizdak was raised in Ringoes, NJ, and enlisted in the Marine Corps on 16 February 1999, at the age of 17. He was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 in Willow Grove, PA, from June 1999 to August 2003 as a Combat Engineer. During this time, he attended West Chester University, in West Chester, PA, and graduated in May 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. In August 2003, after completing Platoon Leaders Course at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, VA, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
As a Company Grade Officer, he served as S-4A, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division; Motor Transport Officer, Maintenance Management Office, and S-4A with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, where he deployed in support of combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq; S-4 Officer, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, where he deployed in support of combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq; Company Commander for Kilo Company and H&S Company, and Battalion Executive Officer, Marine Combat Training Battalion East; Assistant Team Leader, District Police Advisor Team Marjah, with whom he deployed in support of combat operations in Marjah, Afghanistan; and Company Commander, Landing Support Company, CLR-27.
As a Field Grade Officer, he served as Operations Officer for Logistics Battalion, Marine Special Operations Command, and Logistics Company Commander, 2d Marine Raider Support Battalion, Marine Special Operations Command. During this time, he deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism, directly supporting special operations in Trans-Sahara Africa; Operations Officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, where he deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti aboard the USS MESA VERDE; deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism operations in 5th Fleet aboard the USS BATAAN; deployed for humanitarian relief efforts in Ponce, Puerto Rico; Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, 2d Marine Logistics Group.
Lieutenant Colonel Hvizdak’s military education includes: Recruit Training, Marine Combat Training, Combat Engineer School, Platoon Leaders Course Juniors and Seniors, The Basic School, Logistics Officer Course, Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Course, U.S. Army Combined Logistics Captains Career Course (Honor Graduate), Trauma Management Course for the Tactical Operator, Foreign Advisor Course, U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course, U.S. Navy Survival Evasion and Resistance School, The United States Naval War College Intermediate Resident PME (Masters of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies), and the Joint Humanitarian Operations Course.
Lieutenant Colonel Hvizdak’s personal awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal.