Alumnus Leads State Parks Department

Major General Jackson at a campus event in 2011 (Robert Bain photo).

In a move to restore public confidence in a troubled agency, Governor Brown appointed an SJSU alumnus to lead the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General Anthony L. Jackson “brings more than 30 years of problem-solving and management experience to Parks,” Brown said in a statement.

“I am confident that the stewardship of California’s beaches, forests, estuaries, dunes and wetlands is in good hands and that the confidence and trust of Californians in our Parks Department will be restored.”

Jackson’s last post after a 36-year military career was commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West, including Camp Pendleton, Twentynine Palms and other bases where Marines train for advanced combat operations.

While attending SJSU on a full football scholarship, Jackson played three varsity seasons and was team captain in 1970. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from SJSU in 1971 and 1973, respectively.

Jackson also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at the 2011 SJSU commencement ceremony. He serves on the board of the Tower Foundation of SJSU, which manages all SJSU philanthropic donations. His own giving supports the Burdick Military History Project, College of Social Sciences and SJSU Athletics.