The son of a Korean War veteran, Rear Adm. Jerabek enlisted in the Navy in February 1979 under the Advanced Electronics Program, becoming a missile technician.� He was selected for the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training Program (BOOST) and commissioned through the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of Nebraska. His first sea assignment was aboard USS Gray (FF 1054) as gunnery officer, legal officer, and damage control assistant.� He was later assigned aboard USS Missouri (BB 63) as turret II officer and nuclear weapons security officer. He later served ashore as executive officer of the Navy Reserve Center in Kansas City, Mo., and officer in charge of Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 114 (MIUWU-114).

In subsequent deployments, Jerabek served as the senior Navy representative in the Air Tactical Operation Center, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Operation Southern Watch. He also served as commanding officer of MIUWU-114, leading the unit in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While serving as commander of a Task Unit in Umm Qasr, Iraq, he was responsible for the defense of Iraq's strategic port. Prior to the commencement of combat operations, Jerabek led teams that established port security operations at the port of Ash Shuybah, Kuwait and the Kuwait Navy Base, ensuring the secure reception, offloading, and transloading of wartime material.

Jerabek served as commodore of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron One in San Diego from March 2006 to June 2008. During this tour, the squadron supported numerous operational requirements and exercises around the world, demonstrating maritime security capabilities in all environments. Jerabek also commanded Inshore Boat Unit 26; MIUWU-114; Naval Special Warfare Det 113; Fleet Forces Command 206; and U.S. Forces, Japan 105. He also served as the director of the Navy Element, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. In a subsequent assignment he served as chief of staff, U.S. Forces, Japan, during Operation Tomodachi.

Jerabek holds a Master of Military Arts and Science degree from the School of Advanced Military Studies, Operational Arts Fellowship, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Baker University. He is authorized to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Acheivement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Acheivement Medal with two gold stars, as well as multiple unit commendation medals.