Jeffrey D. "JD" Hood
Executive Director, Military Sealift Command
28 February 2025
Mr. Hood serves as the Executive Director of the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. MSC’s mission is to provide assured logistics, strategic sealift, and conduct other specialized missions at sea in support of Navy and joint global operations. MSC is a Type Commander reporting to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), responsible for manning, training, and equipping a force of over 130 ships and 8000 personnel. MSC is also the Naval Component Command for U.S. Transportation Command and is aligned to Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition supporting acquisition procurement and contracting functions.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Hood served as the Deputy Director, Maritime Operations for USFFC responsible for Navy global force management, Fleet scheduling, training, policy, planning, international engagement and force protection. His previous assignments included USFFC Director, Strategy, Policy, Plans and International Engagement and seven years as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Resources and Plans for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in August 2020 and has served as a Department of the Navy civilian for twelve years.
Mr. Hood began his career as a Naval Officer and retired from active duty as a Captain after nearly thirty years of service. As a Naval Aviator, he amassed over 4000 hours flying more than 20 series of aircraft and made numerous deployments embarked in frigates, destroyers and amphibious assault ships. He commanded a Tactical Air Control Squadron and deployed on September 11, 2001 in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom, and in 2003 in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His staff assignments have included tours as the Chief of the Command Center Operations Division on the Joint Staff J3; Chief of Staff for the U.S. Joint Forces Command, Standing Joint Force Headquarters; and as the Strategy and Policy Director for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet.
A native of Albuquerque, N.M., Mr. Hood graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. He was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 2019. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and multiple other medals and campaign ribbons.