Captain Michael E. Jabaley Jr., USN, official photo.
Hodgenville, KY – Lincoln Days Celebration, Inc. has announced that Navy Captain Michael E. Jabaley, Jr., Program Manager of the VIRGINIA-class Submarine Program, will be the featured speaker at this year’s Abraham Lincoln Birthday Luncheon on February 12 in his birthplace of Hodgenville, Kentucky. This year will mark the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Jabaley wil be filling some pretty big shoes. In 1909, at the centennial, then-President Theodore Roosevelt was the featured speaker.
Captain Michael E. Jabaley, Jr., USN
Captain Michael Jabaley, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, graduated with high honors from Vanderbilt University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. Following commissioning via Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, he entered nuclear power training. After one year of training, he taught as an instructor at the S8G land-based nuclear reactor prototype for an additional year. He then served from 1987 to 1989 as a division officer in USS DRUM (SSN 677), making two deployments to the Western Pacific.
Captain Jabaley then served for two years in Naples, Italy on the staff of Commander, Submarine Group Eight, before returning to the fleet in 1992 as Engineer Officer in USS OHIO (SSBN 726) (BLUE). During his tour he completed three strategic deterrent patrols, served as the combined crew Engineer for the first SSBN 726 class engineered overhaul, and completed the post overhaul shakedown in Port Canaveral, Florida.
From 1995 to 1997 Captain Jabaley served as a Technical Assistant to the Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion, in Arlington, Virginia. He served as Executive Officer in USS CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI (SSN 705) from 1997 to 1999, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea, and then served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as an Operations Officer in Nuclear Operations.
Captain Jabaley relieved in command of USS LOUISVILLE (SSN 724) on May 24th, 2002. From September 2002 to May 2003 the ship deployed to the Western Pacific Ocean, Arabian Gulf, and Red Sea, launching Tomahawk missiles in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Jabaley completed his command tour on August 5th, 2004.
Following command, Captain Jabaley served as Senior Inspector of the Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team and Force Navigator on the staff of Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet until July 2005. He then served as Deputy Commander, Submarine Squadron One in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In March 2006, Captain Jabaley reported to PMS 450, the VIRGINIA Class Submarine Project Office, where he serves as Assistant Program Manage for Warfare Requirements and Test and Evaluation.
Captain Jabaley holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is a graduate of the Command and Staff Course of the Naval War College, and of the Joint and Command Staff Officer School of the Armed Forces Staff College (National Defense University). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various campaign and service awards. The award of which he is the most proud is the 2003 Submarine Squadron Three Battle Efficiency Award, awarded to USS LOUISVILLE in January of 2004.
Captain Jabaley is married to the former Nicole Sugnet of Syracuse, New York. They reside in Annandale, Virginia, with their children Stephanie, Alex, Cal, Isabel, Jack, and Christian.
