MAJOR JEFFREY A. LANDIS
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, MARINE CORPS FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
HOME STATE: Pennsylvania
MOS: 4302, Public Affairs Officer

COLLEGE:

• University of Maryland University College, BS Communications;
• University of Oklahoma, Master’s degree in Human Relations

MILITARY SCHOOLS:

• Marine Corps Recruit Training, MCRD Parris Island, S.C.
• Marine Combat Training, Camp Geiger, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Basic Journalism Course, Defense Information School, Ft. Ben Harrison, Ind.
• Rappel Master’s Course, Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Va.
• Basic Broadcaster’s Course, Defense Information School, Ft. Ben Harrison, Ind.
• Sergeants Leadership Course, Camp Geiger, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• SNCO Career Course, Camp Geiger, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Officer Candidate’s School, Quantico, Va.
• The Basic School, Quantico, Va.
• Public Affairs Officers Course, Defense Information School, Ft. Meade, Md.
• Joint Public Affairs Officer’s Orientation Course, Washington, D.C.

MILITARY HISTORY:

Major Jeff Landis, a native of Sunbury, Pa., enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1989 and after boot camp at MCRD Parris Island, S.C., and Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, N.C., was sent to the Defense Information School (DINFOS) Fort Ben Harrison, Ind., for the Basic Journalist Course. After DINFOS graduation in December 1989 and as a lance corporal, he was assigned to the Fleet Hometown News Center in Norfolk, Va. He was promoted to corporal in June 1990 and to sergeant in December 1992. In December 1993, he was transferred to the Department of Defense High School News Service, serving as editor of Profile magazine.

In March 1994, he was transferred to Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, serving as a combat correspondent and later Public Affairs bureau chief for Camp Hansen. In September 1994, he was sent to DINFOS for the Basic Broadcaster Course and graduated in December 1994. Upon return to Okinawa, he was quickly transferred to the Special Purpose MAGTF Belleau Wood for Operation UNITED SHIELD in Somalia. He returned from deployment in March 1995 and was transferred back to the states to Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., as the Press Chief and Editor of the Rotovue newspaper as well as MAG 29 Bureau Chief/correspondent. He attended the Sergeant’s Course in 1996, was promoted to staff sergeant in 1997, and then attended the SNCO Career Course in 1997 before he was transferred to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in October 1997.

While on deployment to the Mediterranean with 24th MEU, then SSgt. Landis was accepted for the Meritorious Commissioning Program and was short-toured on the MEU to attend Officer Candidates School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in April 1998. After The Basic School, he retained the Public Affairs MOS and was sent back to DINFOS for the Public Affairs Officer Course. After graduation in March 1999, he was briefly assigned to the Camp Pendleton, Calif., Media Office, and then assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. His two deployments with the Command Element of 13th MEU included operations DETERMINED RESPONSE (Yemen) and ENDURING FREEDOM (Afghanistan), and various humanitarian missions in Africa and East Timor as well as the USS Cole rescue mission.

He was promoted to captain in May 2002 and soon after transferred to Marine Corps Combat Development Command Public Affairs in Quantico, Va. In February 2005, he was transferred to Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico and then again in June 2007 to The Basic School as a warfighting instructor. He was promoted to major in June 2008, and served as the Protocol Officer/Public Affairs Officer for The Basic School. He was then transferred to Camp Lejeune, N.C., in June 2010 and currently serves as the Public Affairs Officer for Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

Maj. Landis has more than 22 years leadership experience managing internal and external information programs, developing and implementing communication strategies and campaign plans, conducting marketing and brand recognition and serving as spokesperson for Marine Corps, Navy and Department of Defense commands.