Lieutenant Colonel Robert Jankowski, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2008 upon graduating from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Following completion of The Basic School and the Engineer Officer Basic Course in 2009, he began his operational career in Okinawa, Japan.
He served as a Platoon Commander with Company A, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, where he participated in the Korean Interoperability Training Program. He was subsequently selected to serve as the Engineer Platoon Commander with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), completing two patrols. During this period, he led Engineer Civil-Military Operations constructing schools in the Philippines and Thailand and supported humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts during Operation TOMODACHI.
Upon returning to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Jankowski served as the Current Operations Officer and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 11.2. In 2012, he reported to the Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group, assuming roles including General Engineering Department Head, Academics Department Head, Integrated Marine Logistics Operations Course (IMLOC) Chief, and Assistant Operations Officer.
Selected for professional military education by the Commandant's Career Level Education Board, Lieutenant Colonel Jankowski attended the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia, graduating in 2016. He then reported to Camp Pendleton as the Company Commander for Company C, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, where he supported 7th Marines and trained engineer platoons for deployments in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force -Crisis Response -Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) and Integrated Training Exercise 6-17.
In 2017, he volunteered as the Assistant Operations Officer for Task Force Al Asad (later Task Force Lion), deploying to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. There, he supported the 7th Iraqi Army Division in the liberation of Anah, Rawah, and Al Qaim, and the clearance of ISIS elements from the Euphrates River Valley.
Lieutenant Colonel Jankowski was subsequently selected by the Commandant's Professional Level Education Board to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Master of Science in Operations Research in 2020. Following graduation, he served as an Operations Research Analyst at Manpower and Reserve Affairs, contributing to Talent Management 2030 initiatives by applying Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to modernize manpower processes.
In July 2023, he assumed duties as the Operations Officer for Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, deploying to Yuma, Arizona in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-24 and to Norway for Exercise NORDIC RESPONSE 24, serving as the forward headquarters for Marine Air Control Group 28.
In June 2024, he became the Operations Officer for the Recruit Training Regiment at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. There, he managed execution and refinement of the recruit master training schedule and led initiatives to increase training efficiency while reducing attrition and injuries.
Following selection for command, Lieutenant Colonel Jankowski assumed his current role as Inspector-Instructor of Combat Logistics Battalion 25 in Red Bank, New Jersey, in May 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Jankowski is a certified Operations and Tactics Instructor and Expeditionary Logistics Instructor. He is also a distinguished graduate of the non-resident U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, one with Combat Distinguishing Device), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.