Master Chief Musician Jay Loose hails from Somers Point, New Jersey. He is a 1995 graduate of Grove City College in Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in addition to studying trumpet. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997, and upon completion of Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, he reported to the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia for the Basic Music Course.

His first assignment was Navy Band Great Lakes, where he served from 1997 to 2002, performing on trumpet throughout the Midwest. From 2002 to 2005, he was assigned to recruiting duty at Navy Recruiting District Chicago, serving as an enlisted recruiter in southeastern Wisconsin, and as the district's NROTC recruiter. During this tour he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and earned his Master's in Business Administration from Webster University.

In 2005 he attended the School of Music's Unit Leader Course, and upon graduation reported to Pacific Fleet Band, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During this tour he traveled throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, including a 2008 deployment on the hospital ship USNS Mercy, supporting the Navy’s Pacific Partnership humanitarian mission.

He returned again to the School of Music in 2009 for the Senior Musician Course, Navy Music's capstone leadership course, followed by brief assignments at U.S. Fleet Forces Band in Norfolk, Virginia and Navy Band Northeast in Newport, Rhode Island. Beginning in 2011, he served as the Musician Rating Manager at the Center for Service Support in Newport, parent command for the Navy's learning sites in the logistics, administration, and media ratings. During this tour he earned the Master Training Specialist designation and was advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer.

In 2014 he reported for a second time to Pacific Fleet Band, serving as Assistant Director and Senior Enlisted Leader. During this tour, the band supported three Pacific Partnership missions, in addition to representing the Navy in Asia, Australia, Oceania, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. From 2017 to 2018 he served as Senior Enlisted Leader in Naples, Italy at U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band, the Navy's largest fleet band, with an area of responsibility covering Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

In 2019 he reported to Fleet Band Activities, Millington, Tennessee for assignment as Musician Detailer, responsible for assignment and distribution of the Navy's 521 enlisted Musicians at 11 bands and various special duty assignments. In June 2021, he reported to his current assignment as Assistant Director and Senior Enlisted Leader of Navy Band Great Lakes.

Master Chief Loose is a graduate of the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy Class 163 and the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat Course. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Last Updated: 24 March 2023