LTC Jimmy Isakson

Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Isakson began his second assignment as a Portuguese Instructor at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point in July 2025. He served in the same position at USMA from 2020 to 2022. He is a 2006 graduate of USMA and received a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Utah in 2015. He is an Aviation Officer specializing in the functional area of Foreign Area Officer.

He served in the 25th Infantry’s Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) in Hawaii from November 2008 to February 2013. His duties included Platoon Leader in the maintenance company of the General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), Platoon Leader in the CH-47 Chinook Helicopter company, and 3-25 GSAB Rear Detachment Commander during the CAB’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. From September 2009 to July 2010, he deployed with the CAB to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lieutenant Colonel Isakson has extensive experience with the Brazilian Military. As a cadet, he participated in a semester exchange at the Brazilian Army Military Academy (Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras). In 2013-2014 he served at the US Embassy in Brasilia as a Foreign Area Officer where he worked closely with the Brazilian Army to coordinate Brazilian and US Army activities. From August 2015 to July 2018, he served as a Political Military Affairs Officer at US Army South, Fort Sam Houston, TX. While at Army South he served as the Brazil Desk Officer for two years and a Central America Desk Officer for one year. From August 2018 to June 2020, he worked as an exchange officer at the Brazilian Army Command and Staff School (ECEME) in Rio de Janeiro as an instructor in the Doctrine Division. His previous assignment was the Operations Officer in the Military Liaison Office of the US Embassy in Brasilia. He currently serves as the Portuguese Desk Chief in the Department of English and World Languages at USMA.

He is a graduate of Airborne School, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course, the Aviation Officer Basic Course, the Aviation Captains’ Career Course, and the Command and General Staff Course. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Aviator Badge, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.

Lieutenant Colonel Isakson is married to Melissa Isakson and they have five children: Madeline, Lucas, Jonas, Gunnar, and Quinton.