Gunnery Sergeant Jacob A. Cobb hails from Freehold, New Jersey. He attended Freehold Township High School and graduated in June 1996.

After High School Gunnery Sergeant Cobb enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1999 and reported to Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina. After graduation, he attended the School of Infantry, Marine Combat Training, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Private First Class in June 1999. Upon completion, PFC Cobb reported to MAG-26, MCAS New River, North Carolina, as an Aviation Marine Awaiting Training, Where he worked with the Marines of HMM-264 in the Flight Line division. PFC Cobb attended initial MOS school with Aviation Maintenance Squadron One, located at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, where he attended Naval Aircrew Candidate School. Upon graduating as the Honor Graduate, PFC Cobb was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, in November 1999.

In January 2000, LCpl Cobb reported to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Training Squadron 253, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Furthering his training as a KC-130 Flight Mechanic, he attended the T-56 Powerline Course, Flight Mechanic Ground Systems Course, and the initial flight phase of training. LCpl Cobb was promoted to the rank of Corporal in September 2000, and designated as a KC-130 F/R/T Flight Mechanic in December 2000.

In February 2001, Cpl Cobb reported for duty at Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Okinawa, Japan, where he served for 11 months as a KC-130 Flight Mechanic. Cpl Cobb was authorized a Humanitarian Transfer to the I&I Staff of 6th Motor Transport Battalion, Red Bank, New Jersey, assuming duties as the Operations Chief and Unit Dispatcher, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in February 2002.

In January 2003, Sgt Cobb reported to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452, Newburgh, New York. While serving as a Flight Mechanic Sergeant Cobb deployed to Sheik Isa Airbase, Bahrain, and Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

In May 2004, Sgt Cobb reported to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, San Diego, California. Sgt Cobb was selected from his peers to attend the KC-130J Conversion Course, and received his qualification as a KC-130J Crew Chief in December 2004, and returned to VMGR-352 in early 2005. Among other missions, in 2005 Sgt Cobb flew in support of SPMAGTF KATRINA conducting disaster relief operations to the Gulf Coast area of New Orleans. In February 2006, he completed the Sergeants Course at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy at 29 Palms, California, and was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in November 2006. During this time, SSgt Cobb attended and graduated from the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, qualified as a Crew Resource Management Facilitator, and served as a “Safe for Flight” Maintenance Control Supervisor. From February 2007 to February 2009, SSgt Cobb participated in two combat deployments to Al Asad Airbase, Al Anbar province, Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, where he served as a Crew Chief Assistant NATOPS Instructor, Night Systems Instructor, Crew Chief Assistant Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, and Maintenance Control Supervisor. During the first of these deployments, he also volunteered his time as a Staff Instructor for the Corporal’s Course, instructing, mentoring, and graduating 52 Corporals, one Hospital Corpsman, and one United States Army Specialist.

In May 2009, SSgt Cobb reported back to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Okinawa, Japan as a Crew Chief Assistant NATOPS and Night Systems Instructor. In August 2009, SSgt Cobb attended the SNCO Career Course at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy at Okinawa, Japan. Upon return from the Staff Academy SSgt Cobb held the billet of Crew Chief Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. From November 2010 till June 2011, SSgt Cobb deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan with VMGR DET-B comprised of personnel and aircraft from three fleet VMGR squadrons in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, serving as the senior enlisted Marine for VMGR-152, Assistant NATOPS and Night Systems Instructor, and Crew Chief Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. Upon return from Afghanistan SSgt Cobb returned to VMGR-152 in Okinawa Japan, served as the Aircrew Training Assistant Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, and was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in October 2011.

In May 2012, GySgt Cobb reported back to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, where he served as the VMGR-352, MAG-11 Group NATOPS Evaluator and Night Systems Instructor and as the Ground Safety Manager within the squadrons Division of Safety and Standardization (DOSS). In August 2013, GySgt Cobb attended the SNCO Advanced Course at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy at Camp Pendleton, CA. Upon return from the Advanced Course GySgt Cobb held the billet of Crewmaster Instructor in preparation for future deployment. In January 2014 GySgt Cobb deployed to Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for VMGR-352 DET-A, comprised of 77 Marines and three aircraft.

Upon return from that deployment in July 2014, GySgt Cobb resumed his duties at VMGR-352. In January 2015 GySgt Cobb received PCA orders to be the Senior Enlisted Advisor and Chief Instructor at the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) on MCAS Miramar there in San Diego. While there he was training his future replacements as he retired from active duty on August 31,2015.

GySgt Cobb has accumulated more than 7000 mishap free flight hours of which over 1500 are during combat. His decorations include Air Medal with 18 strike/flight awards, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze star, Good Conduct Medal with four bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver star, and NATO Medal.