2024

Distinguished Alumni

Jason Pieri, Class of 1995

Lieutenant Colonel Jason (JP) Pieri was born and raised in Hamburg, NY.  He attended school under his original last name, Brinser, before changing his last name to Pieri in honor of his stepfather.  After graduating, he attended Saint Bonaventure University. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and was commissioned into the United States Army.

He served as a Tank Platoon Leader in the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2000 through 2001. He then served as a Tank Company Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea.

In 2005, Jason joined the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry in Schweinfurt, Germany, as part of the storied 173rd Airborne Brigade.  He commanded C Troop in Kunar Province, Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008, where they earned the honor of congressional delegation visits for outstanding combat performance.

In 2011, Jason was one of two Army officers selected to attend the Marine Corps’ School of Advanced Warfighting. After graduating, Jason served as a campaign planner for ISAF Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Jason joined the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry, serving as Squadron Operations Officer. He was selected as the Operations Officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, where he completed the Army’s first Armored Brigade Combat Team rotation to the Republic of Korea since the Korean War in the 1950s.  Jason then joined the 1st Cavalry Division in 2016 as the Operations Officer (G3).

In 2016, Jason was selected to command the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry, from 2017 to 2019.  He was selected as the Fort Jackson Operations Officer (G3) from 2019 to 2021.  Jason led the Army’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, enabling Fort Jackson to become the first installation in the Department of Defense to successfully complete their mission during COVID.  Jason retired in 2021 but continued service as an Army civilian.  He is currently the Chief of Plans and Operations for Fort Jackson’s garrison.

Jason holds two master’s degrees from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting.  His most notable awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and Combat Action Badge.  He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne School.

Jason and his wife Erin have been happily married for 22 years and have two daughters, Ellie (21) and Emma (18), and a son, Jared (13).