Sunset at Sea

Military Career

20 Years of Service to the United States Navy

LCDR Jason Dahl Official Portrait
LCDR Jason C. Dahl
Ensign Jason Dahl
Newly Commissioned Ensign
Walking to USS Boxer with family
Family & Service — USS Boxer
Sonar Technician aboard USS Leyte Gulf
STG2 Dahl, USS Leyte Gulf
Flight Operations
Helicopter Operations
On deck aboard ship
Underway Operations
USS Boxer in the fog
USS Boxer (LHD 4) Emerging from Fog
IWTD San Diego Team
IWTD San Diego
Team photo at Coronado
Leadership & Sailors
BOAT School Class
BOAT School Class 17-040

From enlisted Sonar Technician to Information Warfare and METOC officer, I've spent my career helping Navy commanders fight and maneuver smarter in complex maritime environments. I've led 80–100+ person operations watchfloors, integrated unmanned air systems into carrier and amphibious operations, and used EMCON/TACSIT and metocean insights to shorten decision cycles and reduce electromagnetic risk for deploying forces.

Highlights

  • Designing and standardizing EW‑informed briefs and dashboards adopted by multiple commanders to improve planning accuracy and cut re‑tasking
  • Re‑routing a strike group to stay ahead of a rapidly changing hurricane track while preserving mission timelines and reducing risk to ships and crews
  • Serving as Officer in Charge of a Naval Information Warfare Training Detachment, certifying deploying units for Pacific and Middle East operations

Military Qualifications

Information Warfare Officer 2017
Tactical Action Officer 2024
Ship Routing Officer 2019
Surface Warfare Officer 2015
Master Maritime Forecaster 2019

Service History

Officer in Charge, Information Warfare Training Detachment

Sept 2025 – Present

Selected to lead an Information Warfare Training Detachment certifying deploying teams for Pacific and Middle East operations.

  • Designed and ran a 24‑course training pipeline that prepares crews to fight with information advantage in contested maritime environments
  • Elevated fleet‑level METOC and EM awareness for complex scenarios, improving commanders' confidence in environmental and spectrum‑driven decisions

Assistant Operations Officer, Fleet Weather Center San Diego

Sept 2024 – Aug 2025

Operations lead in a 24/7 Fleet Weather Center supporting Pacific and Middle East theatres with a team of 85+ personnel.

  • Directed cross‑functional watchfloor teams delivering time‑sensitive forecasting and decision support to deploying strike groups and aviation units
  • Improved mission planning and execution by tightening the feedback loop between environmental prediction, risk assessment, and operations

METOC and Legal Officer, USS Boxer (LHD 4)

Jun 2022 – Aug 2024

Staff METOC officer and Tactical Action Officer for an amphibious assault ship and embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit.

  • Provided real‑time metocean and EM‑aware guidance to the Amphibious Readiness Group and 21st MEU during high‑tempo operations
  • Qualified as Tactical Action Officer on the Ship's Self‑Defense System (SSDS), integrating environmental effects into air and surface defense decisions
  • Delivered meteorological and oceanographic insight that shaped tactical routing, air operations windows, and force protection posture

Naval Postgraduate School

Dec 2019 – Jun 2022

Graduate education in Meteorology & Physical Oceanography, focused on improving environmental prediction for operational use.

  • Earned an M.S. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography and a Space Systems Certificate
  • Conducted thesis research on utilizing ESPC data to forecast Mistral wind events, strengthening experience in data‑assimilation challenges and model performance in complex environments

Current Operations Officer, Fleet Weather Center Norfolk

Jul 2017 – Dec 2019

Led 24/7 operational support for ~100 personnel providing environmental and routing guidance to Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets.

  • Directed Optimum Track Ship Routing (OTSR) to keep strike groups ahead of heavy weather while preserving mission timelines
  • Managed hurricane sortie efforts through multiple tropical cyclones, coordinating with commanders to balance ship safety, readiness, and operational commitments
  • Qualified as Ship Routing Officer and Master Maritime Forecaster, integrating environmental risk into afloat and ashore decision‑making

Operations Assistant, Commander Amphibious Squadron EIGHT

Feb 2016 – Jun 2017

Supported amphibious ready group operations with planning, battlespace awareness, and information warfare integration.

  • Earned Information Warfare Officer qualification three years ahead of schedule, reflecting early depth in EM and information‑centric operations
  • Provided commanders with insights that linked environmental conditions, EM posture, and maneuver options for amphibious forces

Assistant Weapons Officer, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)

Jun 2013 – Jan 2016

Surface Warfare Officer on a nuclear aircraft carrier, responsible for weapons department operations and bridge watchstanding.

  • Qualified as Surface Warfare Officer and Officer of the Deck (Underway), executing complex navigation and shiphandling in high‑traffic and operationally constrained waters
  • Supported Naval Air Operations with safe operating areas, ship positioning, and integration of surface picture, air tasking, and mission timelines

Sonar Technician (Enlisted), USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55)

Jul 2006 – Feb 2011

Sonar Technician and oceanography analyst in cruiser combat environments.

  • Selected for the Seaman‑to‑Admiral‑21 (STA‑21) commissioning program, recognizing technical performance and leadership potential
  • Built the foundation in undersea warfare, environmental effects on sensors, and combat‑system integration that informs later EW and METOC work