Colonel Jason C. Copeland is a native of Roswell, New Mexico. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in Systems Engineering in May of 2004. After commissioning he attended The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Virginia, graduating in May of 2005.
Colonel Copeland then reported to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in Twentynine Palms, California. During his tour, he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, 81mm mortar Platoon Commander, and a Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon Commander. While serving with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Copeland deployed twice to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06 in September of 2005 and Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 in May of 2007.
In May of 2008 Colonel Copeland reported as the Marine Officer Instructor at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana serving as a Company Commander for two summer training packages at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. During this tour, Colonel Copeland completed a Masters in Business Administration from Louisiana State University in May of 2010 before attending the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia.
In May 2012, Colonel Copeland graduated with distinction from Expeditionary Warfare School and reported to Camp Pendleton, California serving as the Charlie Company Commander, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and the 5th Marine Regiment Assistant Operations Officer before assuming command of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines in December of 2012. He deployed with Golf Company on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit for the 2013 Spring Patrol. Upon redeployment in June of 2014 he was assigned as the Battalion Operations Officer and 5th Marine RBE Regimental Operations Officer.
In July of 2015, Colonel Copeland reported to 4th Marine Corps District as the Commanding Officer, Recruiting Station Baltimore leading Marines across Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Colonel Copeland then served as a Senior Instructor in Economics at the U.S. Naval Academy attending the Marine Corps Command and Staff College where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Military Studies.
Following Staff College, Colonel Copeland attended the School of Advanced Warfighting in Quantico, Virginia where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Operational Studies and reported to 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade as a MAGTF Planner and Future Operations Officer in Okinawa, Japan.
In June of 2021, Colonel Copeland assumed command of 3d Battalion, 4th Marines in Twentynine Palms, California leading the unit through Exercise Steel Knight 2021, Mountain Warfare Training Center 2022, MAGTF Warfighting Exercise 1-22, and leading a Multi National Battalion Landing Team during Exercise, and Rim of the Pacific 2022. In October of 2022, Lieutenant Colonel deployed with the battalion on UDP 23-1 to Okinawa, Japan, partnering with militaries in the First Island Chain from South Korea to the Republic of the Philippines. He relinquished command in June of 2023 to attend the National War College earning a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Studies.
In June of 2024, Colonel Copeland reported as the Senior Marine Corps Advisor for Strategy and Force Development, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy before assuming command of Marine Barracks Washington.