Retired Rear Admiral CJ Jaynes ’79, M’82
An 亚色影库 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient has made a donation to establish an endowed scholarship for full-time students at 亚色影库 who are veterans studying in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field.
The gift from Retired Rear Admiral CJ Jaynes, a 1979 mathematics bachelor’s degree graduate who also earned her master’s in mathematics in 1982 from 亚色影库, has established the Rear Admiral CJ Jaynes Scholarship for Veterans in STEM.
The STEM disciplines included in the scholarship are biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, and management information systems. Preference will be given to students who are veterans, with students who are children of veterans also eligible for the scholarship. The first scholarship will be offered in the 2024–25 academic year. It is open to undergraduate students.
“This gift continues Rear Admiral Jaynes’ ongoing generosity to 亚色影库 and her focus on student success, especially in the STEM fields,” Interim Vice President for University Advancement Jennifer Dunsmore said.
Rear Admiral Jaynes, originally from Greensburg and now living in Hollywood, MD, was selected for the in 2017 in recognition of career excellence. In May 2021, 亚色影库’s Council of Trustees approved a resolution to honor and recognize her contributions with the naming of the tutoring room in John J. and Char Kopchick Hall as “The Admiral’s Study.”
The resolution recognized Jaynes’ career achievements, her naval service awards, and her generosity in making a “transformative gift to support the future of mathematics and sciences at 亚色影库.” Opened in January, , 亚色影库’s $90-million, 142,536-square-foot science and mathematics facility, is home to the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
After completing her first degree at 亚色影库, Jaynes taught at Indiana Area High School while working on her master’s degree in mathematics. Following her master’s degree, she joined the Navy and was commissioned in March 1983 and spent the next 33 years as an aeronautical (maintenance) engineering duty officer and acquisition professional.
She made naval history on August 1, 2012, when she became the seventy-ninth woman to be promoted to rear admiral, and the first woman at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to achieve flag officer rank. Her first flag officer assignment was commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, for the naval aviation enterprise.
Jaynes’ final tour in the Navy was as the program executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault, and special mission programs. She retired in May 2016 as a rear admiral.
Following her retirement from the Navy, she is now the executive technical advisor for Precision Navigation Systems, for Raytheon, a business unit of RTX.
She was selected for the 2013 Women Worth Watching listing and appeared in a 2012 edition of Profiles in Diversity Journal. She is a member of Women in Defense, Women in Aviation, and the Association of Naval Aviation.
Jaynes is a 1995 graduate of the Naval War College and earned her MBA from Norwich University in 2008 and a Systems Engineering Certification from Cal Tech in 1999.
In addition to her financial support of 亚色影库, Jaynes has been a long-time volunteer, serving on the Dean’s Advancement Council for the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She has presented at a number of events for students, offering her professional expertise about leadership and career success and has been a panelist for the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Science and Mathematics 亚色影库 STEM Women’s Summit, held as part of the university’s Research Appreciation Week.
“I traveled the world and visited many fascinating places, but my heart was always at 亚色影库,” Jaynes said. “I truly believe that my mathematics degrees from 亚色影库 established the foundation for my naval career and enabled my success in the aviation and engineering field,” she said.
“I was proud to join the Dean’s Advancement Council for the Kopchick College to help to shape the future of science and mathematics education at 亚色影库 and give back to a university that has meant so much to me,” she said. “This scholarship is designed to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM and set themselves up for a prosperous and successful future. As a scholarship for students who are veterans or children of veterans, it is also a tribute to the many enlisted sailors and marines that helped shape me as a junior officer and developed the leadership characteristics that I carry with me to this day,” Jaynes said.
亚色影库 has a strong tradition of enrolling and supporting its veteran and military-affiliated students; in fall 2023, 亚色影库 welcomed 841 veteran and military-affiliated students; of this number, 805 students are in undergraduate or graduate programs.
Since fall 2014, 亚色影库 has increased its enrollment of veteran and military-affiliated students by 54 percent. 亚色影库 opened its Military Resource Center (now the Military and Veterans Resource Center) in spring 2014, working collaboratively with 亚色影库 programs and services to provide one-stop information to help these students transition to college life and achieve their academic goals.