Jacob Brister serves as the Executive Director of the Mississippi River Commission (MRC). Established in 1879, the Commission consists of seven presidentially appointed members: four military officers and three civilians. The MRC is charged with prosecuting the Mississippi and Tributaries Project.
Most recently, Brister served as the Deputy Chief of the Programs and Project Management Division for the Vicksburg District. In that role, he led long-term strategies to address water resource challenges and managed relationships with partners and stakeholders across the region. He also served as the district's congressional liaison, responsible for all communication and coordination with the 17 member of Congress who serve within the Vicksburg District's jurisdiction.
From 2010-2016 Brister served as the Chief of the Project Management Branch within the same division. He has more than 22 years of experience working in the Programs and Project Management Division. Between 2020 to 2024, he completed three developmental assignments within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army Civil Works (ASA(CW)), including a six-month assignment as the Director of Policy and Legislation.
His awards include the Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, the 2011 and 2015 District Award for Outstanding Achievement in Equal Opportunity, and the 2008 District Leadership Award.
Jacob has a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in economics.