Major General Valerie A. Jackson is the Commanding General of United States Marine Forces Korea.
A native New Englander, Second Lieutenant Ray entered the Marine Corps from Boston University’s NROTC program in 1994. She completed The Basic School and Basic Communication Officers’ Course in 1995 and reported to Marine Wing Communications Squadron-28 (MWCS-28) in Cherry Point, North Carolina, as a communications officer. While at MWCS-28, Lieutenant Ray served Platoon Commander and Detachment Operations and Executive Officer. In 1996, she deployed to Lima, Peru, supporting a radar detachment in the Amazon River valley for Operation Laser Strike. Lieutenant Ray joined Marine Combat Training Battalion (MCT), School of Infantry-East (SOI-East) in 1997 as a company executive officer. In 1998, then Captain Jackson transitioned to SOI’s Headquarters and Service Battalion to serve as Marines Awaiting Training and Headquarters and Service Company Commanders, and finally as Headquarters and Service Battalion executive officer. In July of 1999, she transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve. During August of 2003, Captain Jackson became the Peacetime/Wartime Support Team Officer-in-Charge for India Company, 3d Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th MARDIV in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Major Jackson joined the Marine Corps History Division in 2006 as the senior editor and a field historian. In 2008, Major Jackson joined the SCETC Civil-Military Operations Branch, assisting in the creation of the first USMC Civil Affairs MOS School. Major Jackson deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) with Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan's G-9 in 2009. LtCol Jackson joined II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) as the CMO Planner in 2011 before transitioning to the II MEF G-6 as the Reserve Operations Officer. She subsequently served as the Marine Forces Reserve Force Headquarters Group (FHG) G-6. From Dec 2013 to May 2016, she was the commanding officer of Marine Wing Communications Squadron-48 (MWCS-48). In May 2015, she transferred to the 8th Marine Corps Recruiting District as a Recruiting Support Officer, Dallas, Texas. From 2016-2018, she commanded the 4th Civil Affairs Group in Hialeah, Florida. Before assuming her duties as Vice Chief of Staff at Marine Forces Reserve, she worked as the Deputy Director for Information Plans and Strategy at DC-Information, HQMC.
She assumed her first general officer position as Deputy Commander (IMA) at II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) in March 2022, served briefly as Director of Operations, PP & O, and deployed to Combined-Joint Task Force Horn of Africa as the Deputy Commanding General in January of 2023. From June 2023 to May 2025, she was the Commanding General, 4th Marine Logistics Group. She assumed her current position as Commander, Marine Forces, Korea in June 2025. MajGen Jackson’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. She holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College (distinguished graduate), a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies/Conflict Management and Resolution from UNC-Wilmington, and a Bachelor’s in History from Boston University.