Growing up in Arlington as the daughter of a university professor and a high school math and art teacher, you could say that Jeannie Deakyne is a born educator. As a child, Jeannie would spend most Wednesday late-afternoons roller-skating across the UT Arlington campus or sitting in the back of the lecture hall during one of her father's graduate-level finance classes. Here she learned that higher education provides a space to dream, plan, and achieve. After graduating from Arlington High, she followed her dream of earning a commission as a military officer - along with a debt-free college education - by way of an Army ROTC scholarship. 

Four years and one political science degree later, Jeannie achieved that dream. Her decorated 12-year Army career included two deployments with the First Cavalry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, service as the Company Commander for all Army forces at the Baghdad International Airport, Chief Personnel Officer for the Division’s Air Combat Brigade, and Operations Officer for the personnel, postal, and casualty operations unit for Iraq and Kuwait. 

The Army recognized Jeannie's talent for teaching and developing its young leaders, and assigned her as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at UT Arlington. There, she led the department's curriculum development and training, was the primary instructor for college freshman, and expanded the university's cross-enrollment agreements to include partnerships with Tarrant County College, Dallas County Community College, Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, Dallas Baptist University, University of Dallas and Texas A&M Commerce. In 2009, she and her husband began growing their family with the first of three daughters, and Jeannie continued cultivating her community. 

When her military service ended in 2011, Jeannie kept on serving others. She earned her Master’s Degree in Political Science, and became the university's Manager of Staff and Faculty Learning and Development, where she established a track record of creating innovative leadership training for department leaders, eventually setting the stage for her move to Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business and a new adventure as the Director of TCU Neeley Executive Education. This time with new twin daughters in tow.

Now, as the Vice President of Operations for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, Jeannie is leading the way to build the Texas-based museum and education center, sharing the stories of our Medal of Honor recipients, inspiring visitors across the world to explore the concepts of courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment, and learn how these values can be exemplified in their daily lives. She has also invested deeply in our North Texas community. Jeannie served as the co-chair of the AISD 2019 Capital Needs Steering Committee, member of the 2014 Capital Needs Steering Committee, chair of the 2009 Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, and multiple terms on the district’s Financial Futures Committee. And you don’t have to look far to see Jeannie’s leadership in the community celebrated: she was named the Inaugural recipient of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce Women’s Alliance Rising Star Award, and received Texas PTA’s Honorary Life Membership Award and the Junior League of Arlington’s President’s Award.

Her additional current and past board and community service includes: Governance Committee for the Association of Junior Leagues International, National Vice Chair of Junior Membership (Classroom Grants) for the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vice President of Leadership for the Texas Parent Teacher Association, President of the Arlington Council of PTAs, President of the C.C. Duff Elementary PTA, President of the Junior League of Arlington, Regent of the Quanah Parker Chapter of DAR, City of Arlington Zoning Board of Adjustment, board member of the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, board member of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Veterans Business Council, and member of the Women’s Alliance Advisory Council.