Lieutenant Colonel Richard Jahelka is a native of La Jolla, CA. He graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in History and was commissioned in 2005.
After graduating from the Basic Officer Couse and Infantry Officer Course, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in Camp Pendleton, CA. In 2006 he deployed on the 15th MEU and participated in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Ar Ramadi, Iraq as a Rifle Platoon Commander. In 2008 he deployed on the 31st MEU and participated in Operation CARING RESPONSE in Burma as the Fox Company Executive Officer.
From 2009 to 2011 he served at the Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry (West) in the billets of Company Commander and Battalion Operations Officer. In 2012 he attended the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, GA, graduating with honors.
In 2012 he reported to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in 29 Palms, CA. From 2012-2013 he commanded Echo Company, 2/7 and participated in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in the Sangin and Kajaki Districts of Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In 2013 he assumed command of Weapons Company, 2/7 and deployed on the first SPMAGTF-CR-CENTCOM rotation, participating in Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. During that time, he commanded the Marine forces which conducted the reinforcement, closure, and evacuation of American Citizens at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen.
In 2015 he reported to the III Marine Expeditionary Force command element, where he served as the G-37 Southeast Asia Exercise Planner, the III MEF Staff Secretary, the OIC of the Marine Detachment in the Southern Philippines in connection with Operation PACIFIC EAGLE – PHILIPPINES, and as the Executive Officer of the III MEF Support Battalion.
From 2018 to 2019 he attended the USMC Command and Staff College in Quantico, VA, graduating as a Gray Scholar with a certificate in Cyber and Operations in the Information Environment. From 2019 to 2021 he served as the Executive Officer of Battalion Landing Team 2/4, deploying on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the INDOPACOM area.
From 2021 to 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Jahelka was assigned to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. In that Joint Duty Assignment, he led the Department’s pathfinder Predictive Maintenance Machine Learning portfolio, led an Artificial Intelligence Expert Team assigned to US European Command, and served as the Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy CDAO.
LtCol Jahelka holds a Master’s Degree in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master’s Degree in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (x2), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (x3) (w/ combat V) and Combat Action Ribbon (x2).