Mike Jernigan was commissioned in 1992 and holds degrees from Auburn University, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Pakistan’s National Defense University. His first assignment was to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC where he served as a Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer and deployed in support of Joint Task Force 6’s counter-narcotics operations.
In 1994, he was selected to be the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Joint Task Force 160 and deployed to Kingston, Jamaica and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Haitian and Cuban migrant relief operations (Operation SEA SIGNAL). Upon his return to the U.S., he served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 2nd Force Service Support Group. He then was reassigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion as the battalion’s Operations Officer.
In 1998, he was assigned to the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, Camp Pendleton, CA where he served as a Project Officer for the Marine Corps’ ground tactical software and as Deputy Director, Ground Systems Division.
In 2001, he was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA where he served as a Company Commander, the Operations Officer, and the Executive Officer. During Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I, Colonel Jernigan commanded 1st Combat Engineer Battalion. In 2003, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion won Marine Corps Combat Engineer Battalion of the Year. In 2004, he was selected as a USMC National Fellow and worked for the Chief Executive Officer of The Home Depot in Atlanta, GA. His next assignment was to Marine Forces Pacific, Camp Smith, HI where he served as Engineer Officer and Operations Planner. In 2007, Colonel Jernigan deployed with Marine Forces Central Command as an Operations Planner and Force Protection Officer in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. He then was the Commanding Officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 3 where he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Combat Logistics Battalion 3 won 2009 Marine Corps Logistics Unit of the Year. He then attended the Pakistan National Defense University and was next assigned to U.S. Pacific Command where he served as Lead Strategist. In 2014, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as the Engineer and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Branch Head. His most recent assignment was as the Director of Logistics and Installations (J4) at U.S. Forces Japan.
Colonel Jernigan is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Naval War College - College of Command and Staff, the Advanced Logistics Officer Course, the Marine Corps Logistics Education Program, the U.S. Army’s Basic and Advanced Anti-Terrorism Officer Courses, the Air War College, the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, and The Home Depot’s Executive Leadership Program. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Japanese Defense Cooperation Medal.