Jess grew up in Newbury Park, CA. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in Russian literature, and was commissioned at the George Washington University NROTC unit in 2009. She earned her wings as Naval Aviator #31,198 on 9 September 2011 and selected Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light East.  

For her first sea tour, she joined the “Vipers” of HSL-48.  She flew the SH-60B on the USS MONTEREY (CG-61) on a ballistic missile defense deployment in FIFTH and SIXTH Fleets. Following deployment and qualifying as aircraft commander, she completed the MH-60R syllabus and served as Assistant Helicopter Element Coordinator for DESRON TWO SIX for JOINT WARRIOR 14-2. She deployed as the detachment operations officer for HSM-48’s first MH-60R detachment, sailing on the USS VICKSBURG (CG-69) assigned as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO in SIXTH Fleet.  She finished out her tour with the “Vipers” as the NATOPS Officer, earning “Pilot of the Year” for 2015.  

In 2016, she joined the “Airwolves” of HSM-40 as an MH-60R Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor Pilot after graduating from Naval Aviation Safety School.  She departed after serving as Staff NATOPS Officer and reported to Navy Personnel Command in Millington, TN, as the flag aide to the Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel. 

After Navy Personnel Command, she joined the “Spartans” of HSM-70 as a department head. She completed three underway periods on the USS GERALD R FORD (CVN-78). The highlight of her department head tour was forming and leading a Combat Element in rapid response to Theater ASW tasking. Later, CEL-1 mixed HSM-70 and HSM-79 (“Griffins”) personnel to form the first Air Department for the USS PAUL IGNATIUS (DDG-117), participating in FORMIDABLE SHIELD 2021. She also served as HSM-70’s Operations Officer and earned the CNAF Leadership Award for Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Atlantic in 2021. 

Following her department head tour, Jess attended the Naval War College in Newport, RI, earning a M.A. in defense and strategic studies and completing JPME I. Jess was selected for operational command and joined the “Raptors” of HSM-71 in July 2024. 

She lives in Imperial Beach, CA with the best German Shepherd. Jess has also led the Recruiting, Retention, and Readiness working group for the Currently Serving Advisory Council for the Military Officers Association of America. Her other professional organizations include the Naval Helicopter Association, Tailhook, the 99s, and the Naval War College Foundation. She has written for Approach magazine, Rotor Review, and SWO Network News.