Independent Herald:
Major Jason Lambert of Oceana has been named Pacific Theater Air and Missile Defender of the Year for the Marine Corps for 2015. Lambert enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1998 and trained as an Air Control Electronics Operator before receiving a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp Scholarship to the Virginia Military Institute where he received a M.S. in Psychology.
He was then assigned to the Marine Corps Communication and Electronics School where he was designated as an Air Defense Control Officer.
In July 2004, Major Lambert reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 4, Tactical Air Operations Center, Okinawa, where he served as a Senior Traffic Director, Surveillance Identification Director, and Air Intercept Controller.
In May 2007, he deployed with the Al Assad Air Base, Iraq and established the TAOC Detachment for Surveillance and Air Defense of western Iraq.
In August 2013, Major Lambert returned to Okinawa as the Marine Air Control Group 18, Future Operations Officer.
In his current billet, he integrates one TAOC, and two Air Traffic Control Detachments into Joint and Coalition Theater Security Cooperation Exercises and Operations throughout the Pacific Command’s AOR. Major Lambert engaged with United States Forces Japan, concerning the AN/TPS-59 (V) 3 Radars Ability to radiate on Okinawa.
He is currently leading testing initiatives with Headquarters Marine Corp Aviation, United States Forces Japan, III Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Japanese Air Self Defense Force, MITRE, and Lockheed Martin. This testing is designed to harmonize the AN/TPS-59’s usage on Okinawa to ensure it does not interfere with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force’s FPS-5 Radar. The AN/TPS-59, with Air Breathing Target Mode and Theater Ballistic Mode Capabilities, is important to the Air Defense role throughout the Pacific Command’s Area of Responsibility, thus necessitating the requirement to operate on Okinawa.
This year marks the inaugural Pacific Theater Air and Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony, recognizing and honoring members of our military who command and operate deployed air and missile defense systems in the Pacific. These select individuals represent the best in leadership and personal effort, demonstrating their commitment to excellence in their critical role in air and missile defense.
They are an inspiration to their subordinates, peers and superiors. They have demonstrated leadership that goes above and beyond for the good of our country.
The purpose of this award is to recognize exceptional individuals and their role in defending our homeland, armed forces, and allies. Recognizing them helps to educate the American public and inspire those they work with to defend our nation.
The Defenders of the Year are selected by their peers and commanding officers from the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps and civilian entities.
The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance mission is to make the world safer by advocating for the development and deployment of missile defense systems to defend the United States, its Armed Forces, and its allies against missile threats.
MDAA is the only organization in existence whose primary mission is to educate the American public about missile defense issues and to recruit organized and mobilized citizens to advocate for the critical need of missile defense.
They are a non-profit organization that does not advocate on behalf of any specific system, technology, architecture or entity.
MDAA was founded by Riki Ellison in 2002 to generate public support through education for the continued testing, development, and deployment of missile defense systems.
Lambert is married to Jessica Lambert and they have one daughter, Trinity. He is the son of Robert and Linda Lambert of Oceana.
