Jay Caputo

Jay Caputo served in the United States Naval Air Reserve and achieved the rank of Captain.

A native of Brooklyn, he enlisted in the Reserve at NAS New York (Floyd Bennett Field) in June 1970 as an Airman recruit. Following recruit training, he was assigned to Air Traffic Controller “A” School, where he graduated second in his class. He returned to NAS New York, where he was assigned to multiple different reserve units and advanced to Air Traffic Controller Second Class. He continued to serve in an enlisted status for 12 years.

After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University, he applied for and received his commission as a Lieutenant (junior grade), Special Duty Officer in Naval Intelligence.

His assignments include Fleet Intelligence Rapid Support Team, Europe and Atlantic, Naval Investigative Service/Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic, Defense Operations HUMINT Exploitation, Office of Naval Intelligence, Interrogation of POW Unit, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Resident Agency London, UK; Naples, IT; Rota, SP; Middle East Field Office, Bahrain Defense Intelligence Agency, and Rome, NY.

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the entire national NCIS reserve component was recalled to active duty. This mobilization saw Mr. Caputo deployed overseas to the NCIS Resident Agency in London, UK with follow-on force protection assignments to various ports in Europe and the Middle East.

He retired as Captain after 39 years of active and reserve service. He is the recipient of the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Naval Reserve Meritorious Medal with two Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with four Bronze Stars, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass and Mobilization Device.

Mr. Caputo has been affiliated with the Veterans of Foreign Wars since his return from deployment. He has served as Officer of the Day, Trustee and Post Commander for Syosset VFW Post 6394, and as Senior Vice Commander and Commander of the Nassau County Council, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Currently, he is a Vice Commander with the VFW District 10 on Long Island.

He served with the Nassau County Police Department, from which he retired in 2012 as the Chief of Detectives. A resident of Syosset, he is married to Kathleen and has two daughters, Janet and Dana.