LtCol Jerome P. Rizzo
F/A-18C Pilot
United States Marine Corps
Executive Officer
(607)255-4202
LtCol Jerome P. Rizzo
Lieutenant Colonel Jerome P. Rizzo was born and raised in Natick, Massachusetts. He graduated from Williams College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. After spending two years as a high school math teacher and football coach at the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, he was hired by the University of California – Berkeley. While at Berkeley he served as the wide receivers coach for the University’s football team and in 1991 received a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration.
LtCol Rizzo began Officer Candidates School in June 1991 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in August 1991. Upon completion of The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, he was assigned to the Naval Aviation Training Command. He flew the T-34C, the T-2B, and the T-45A in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas. He was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1995 and subsequently received the Naval Aviation Training Command’s Student Aviator-of-the-Year Award. He selected the F/A-18 and was assigned to VFA-106 at Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida.
Upon completion of F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron training in August 1996, LtCol Rizzo reported to Marine Air Group 31 at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina. While there, he served in numerous billets, including VMFA-122 Pilot Training Officer, MAG-31 Pilot Training Officer and VMFA-251 Operations Officer. He attended TOPGUN and WTI and received every possible F/A-18 flight leadership designation. While assigned to MAG-31, he completed two deployments to Iwakuni, Japan.
LtCol Rizzo reported to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in September 2000 to serve as the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) Air Officer. The BLT attached to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the Landing Force of the US 6th Fleet. During August-September 2001, he participated in Peacekeeping Operations in Kosovo in support of Task Force Falcon.
Upon his return from Kosovo, LtCol Rizzo transferred to the Naval Strike Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) in Fallon, Nevada where he served as an F/A-18 TOPGUN instructor during 2001-2002.
In 2002, LtCol Rizzo was assigned to the United States Naval Academy as a Physical Education Instructor and Varsity Football Coach. He received the Naval Academy’s 2002 Varsity Coach of the Year award. In February 2003, he volunteered to serve with the 1st Marine Division as a Forward Air Controller in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. He deployed to Kuwait and was attached to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. From March through May of 2003 he participated in combat operations in Iraq. He returned to his assignment at the Naval Academy in June 2003.
In May of 2006, LtCol Rizzo transferred to US Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy where he served as the Expeditionary Plans Officer. From July through September 2006, he deployed to Beirut, Lebanon and Akrotiri, Cyprus to serve as the J-3 Operations Officer for TF Alpha, JTF Lebanon, in support of the United States’ Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations.
LtCol Rizzo reported to Cornell University NROTC in July 2008. He currently serves as the unit’s Executive Officer and Marine Officer Instructor.
LtCol Rizzo’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with gold star in lieu of two awards), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with combat distinguishing device and gold star in lieu of two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with gold star in lieu of two awards), and the Combat Action Ribbon.