Captain Jason Grabelle assumed the duties of (Acting) Executive Director, Amphibious, Auxiliary, and Sealift Ships within Program Executive Office Ships in December 2024. He provides executive leadership to more than 200 personnel and oversees one of the broadest acquisition portfolios in the Navy, including more than $40 billion in complex shipbuilding procurements. Previously, he served as Program Manager, Amphibious Assault and Connectors Program (PMS 317) and Program Manager, International Fleet Support Program (PMS 326).
Captain Jason Grabelle, a native of New Jersey, graduated in 1998 from the Maine Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Studies and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program. He graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2005 with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
At sea, Grabelle’s tours as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) included Electrical Officer, Auxiliaries Officer and Assistant Chief Engineer on USS Cole (DDG 67) and Auxiliaries Officer on USS Kauffman (FFG 59). While on USS Cole, he served as the Repair 5 Locker Officer during the October 2000 terrorist attack, playing a vital role in leading the damage control efforts and treatment of the wounded.
His Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) assignments include: Nuclear Assistant Project Superintendent at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Readiness Analysis & Assessment Officer at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Quality Assurance Officer and Post Shakedown Availability Officer at Supervisor of Shipbuilding Bath Maine, Principal Assistant Program Manager at Program Executive Office Ships – Zumwalt Class Destroyer Program Office (PMS 500), Secretary of Defense Executive Fellow at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Surface Combatants Director at Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition.
He participated in Operation Enduring Freedom completing an Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment as a Reconstruction Engineer for the Joint Engineering Operations Section of Combined Joint Task Force-82 (Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan).
He has served on teams that have been recognized with numerous awards and is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5 awards), and the Combat Action Ribbon.