Jeff Hammond enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1994. After graduating from the University of Michigan-Flint (1995), he earned a commission via the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) in 1996. Col Hammond augmented to the regular Marine Corps in May of 2000 and promoted to his current rank in July of 2019.
Col Hammond became a Communications Officer (0602) after The Basic School (Fox Co - 1996), also holding occupational specialties of MAGTF Planner (0505), MAGTF Communications Planner (0603), and Civil Affairs Officer (0508).
Col Hammond’s fleet assignments include tours with 2d Marine Air Wing, 2d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, 3d Marine Division, and 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade. His supporting establishment tours include Marine Corps Training Command at Marine Corps Communication Electronics School in 29 Palms, CA and Headquarters and Support Battalion, MCIPAC. Col Hammond has served as a staff officer at the Battalion, Squadron, Regimental, Brigade, Division, and Force levels and has commanded at the platoon, company, battalion, and O6 levels. He is a joint qualified officer having served as a J35 Future Operations, Land/Maritime Operations planner at U.S. Southern Command, Miami, FL. His most recent command assignment was serving as the Deputy Commander, MCIPAC. Col Hammond assumed the duties of Chief of Staff, Marine Forces South in September 2024.
Col Hammond graduated from Marine Amphibious Warfare School (2002) in residence, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (2012) in residence, the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies (2013), and the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (2017). His operational deployments include Operations Enduring Freedom (10.1 & 10.2) and Unified Assistance (2005) as well as numerous theater security cooperation and humanitarian assistance deployments. Col Hammond’s civilian education includes a Bachelor’s of Business Administration – Accounting from the University of Michigan-Flint (1995), a Master’s of Science in Computer Information Systems from Boston University (2000), a Master’s of Military Arts and Sciences Degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College’s School of Advanced Military Studies (2013), and a Master’s of Science degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the U.S. Joint Advanced Warfighting School (2017). Col Hammond has been a Certified Information Security Systems Professional since 2008.