Chief of Staff, Office of Naval Intelligence
Acting Commanding Officer, Kennedy Maritime Analysis Center
Capt. Jon O'Connor reported to the Office of Naval Intelligence as the chief of staff in June 2023. In June 2024, he assumed the additional role of acting commanding officer of the Kennedy Maritime Analysis Center. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the first major commander of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Navy Element and advisor to Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth.
O’Connor is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and graduated cum laude from Roanoke College in 1994. He was commissioned via Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 1997.
At sea, O’Connor served as the squadron intelligence officer for Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 82 in 1998 and embarked upon USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) in 1999 supporting Operation Southern Watch. In 2004, he reported to U.S. 7th Fleet as fleet collections manager. In 2015, O’Connor reported to U.S. 7th Fleet as the assistant chief of staff for intelligence embarked upon USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). There he provided intelligence support to all carrier strike groups operating in the Indo-Asia Pacific Region, winning Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific's Intelligence and Cryptologic Team of the Year for 2015. He returned to U.S. 7th Fleet in January 2020, where he became the first fleet information warfare commander in the U.S. Navy under Vice Adm. Merz.
Ashore, O'Connor reported to U.S. Naval Forces Japan in 2000, serving as an intelligence liaison officer with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. In 2002, he attended Naval Postgraduate School and was selected as an associate fellow for the Chief of Naval Operations’ Strategic Studies Group XXIII. He graduated with Masters of Arts in National Security Affairs (East Asia) and Defense Decision Making. In 2007, O’Connor was selected for Halsey Group Alfa at the U.S. Naval War College. He studied wargaming analysis and graduated with a master’s in Strategic Studies. O’Connor reported to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in 2008, where he served as the deputy chief of the China division and personally designed the division's daily intelligence product. From 2011 to 2012, he served as flag aide to two U.S. Pacific Fleet Commanders: Adm. Walsh and Adm. Haney. In 2013, O’Connor reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he assisted in the establishment of Navy Information Forces Command and was the Information Warfare (N2N6) liaison to Adm. Michelle Howard and Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan. In 2017, he reported to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command and served as the division chief for the mission support division.
O'Connor is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College. He received the Adm. B.R. Inman Award for Intelligence in 2004. In 2021, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force presented him the Japanese Defense Cooperation Award. O’Connor’s military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star, and the Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star as well as various unit awards.