In 1983 Jackson returned to the United States to attend the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, followed by duty with the United States Army Personnel Center at Alexandria, Virginia, from 1984 to 1987. Now thoroughly grounded in all aspects of logistics, he progressed through a series of increasingly demanding assignments. He commanded the 707th Maintenance Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, California, from 1987 to 1989 and then served as assistant chief of staff, G-4 (Logistics) for the 7th Infantry Division, deploying with the division to Panama for Operation Just Cause. Following attendance at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, he served as special assistant to the Army Chief of Staff from 1991 to 1992, and next took command of the Division Support Command, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in 1992.