Master Gunnery Sergeant Jeff Rooke is currently serving as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Marine Corps Detachment, Presidio of Monterey.
MGySgt Rooke was born in Webster, TX and was raised in the suburbs southeast of Houston, TX. He was educated in the Deer Park public school system until high school when he transferred to Harvest Christian Academy. During his senior year at Harvest Christian Academy, MGySgt Rooke decided to join the Marine Corps after an inspiring trip to Washington D.C.
Recruit Rooke stood on the yellow footprints at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on 23 August 1999. After graduating from recruit training, PVT Rooke reported to the Marine Corps Detachment, Presidio of Monterey to learn Arabic at the Defense Language Institute (DLI). He overcame his difficulties learning a language by studying fervently and graduated with distinction. After completion of the Basic Arabic Course at DLI, LCpl Rooke attended and successfully completed follow-on special intelligence training at the Marine Corps Detachment aboard Goodfellow Air Force Base in 2002.
In 2002, Cpl Rooke reported to 2d Radio Battalion (RadBn) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Cpl Rooke was selected as a member of the Signals Intelligence Support Team (SST) for the 22 Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) RadBn Detachment. He finished the deployment as SST Assistant Team Leader and gained a strong foundation for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) operations from extensive work-ups and numerous missions. He also gained valuable experience on Marine Corps tactical operations from the time spent conducting Operation Mountain Storm in the Central Afghanistan provinces of Kandahar, Uruzgan, and Helmand. After deployment, Sgt Rooke served as Shift Supervisor at the Virtual Linguistic Extension in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In the summer of 2005, Sgt Rooke reenlisted and returned to DLI for the Intermediate Arabic Course and again graduated with distinction. Sgt Rooke received orders to Augusta, Georgia with Company D, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion (MCSB) in 2006. While at Company D, he supported operations from National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) Georgia by providing linguistic and analytic support to war fighters in Iraq. He deployed again as an individual augment with 2d RadBn to Camp Fallujah, Iraq and surrounding areas of operations. During his 2007-2008 deployment to Iraq, he began as the Digital Network Intelligence Linguist, but was chosen to fill the role as SST Team Leader and Team Linguist in order to utilize his linguistic capabilities and team leadership experience. Upon return from his deployment with 2d RadBn, SSgt Rooke returned to his position at NSA/CSS Georgia and was given additional duties as a Platoon Commander within Company D. In 2008, SSgt Rooke attended the MAGTF Intelligence Specialist Career Course and finished as the Honor Graduate. After six months of service as a Platoon Commander, SSgt Rooke was selected to move to the Company D Headquarters and Administration Office to take responsibilities of Company Gunnery Sergeant, Training Chief, Supply Chief, Fiscal Officer, and Command Physical Training Representative. In 2010, SSgt Rooke requested a transfer to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and was able to attend the Marine Analysis and Reporting Course in San Angelo, Texas on his way to MARSOC.
SSgt Rooke reported to MARSOC in January 2011 and was assigned to Intelligence Battalion. During his time at MARSOC, SSgt Rooke was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and Master Sergeant. He attended the Special Operations Training Course, Special Operations Forces SIGINT Course, MARSOC Survive Evade Resist and Escape (SERE) Training, several communications courses, and was a Mode 1 and 3 Instructor. GySgt Rooke deployed three times with Marine Special Operations Company Hotel as the Special Collections Team SIGINT Chief between January 2012 and June 2014. After deployments, GySgt Rooke filled the role of Intelligence Chief in the MARSOC G7 by planning, organizing and executing the SIGINT portions of the MARSOC Raven Exercise and ensuring a blended intelligence environment to drive training operations. After serving two years as the G7 Intelligence Chief, MSgt Rooke transferred to 2d Marine Raider Support Battalion as the Intelligence Company Operations Chief and SIGINT Chief conducting oversight for manning, training, and equipping Direct Support Teams in support of Special Operations Command Central and Operation Inherent Resolve.
MSgt Rooke executed orders to 2d RadBn, Information Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in August 2017 and was assigned as Operational Control and Analysis Chief before becoming the Battalion Training Chief. As Training Chief, MSgt Rooke merged duties of Marine Corps green-side training, SIGINT training, exercise development, exercise execution, and evaluations by using his experience to train the Marines of 2d RadBn. He also served as Electronic Warfare Support Team Chief in Norway during Trident Juncture Exercise in 2018 directly influencing the communications structure and processes of II MEF.
MSgt Rooke served at Company H, MCSB from 2019 to 2021 and was assigned as International Narcotics Office Senior Enlisted Leader at NSA/CSS Texas. In May of 2020, he ascended to the position of Senior Enlisted Leader of the Marines at NSA/CSS Texas. In June of 2021, he was promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant and executed orders to the Marine Corps Detachment, Presidio of Monterey where he continues to serve proudly.
MGySgt Rooke’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with one silver and one bronze star.