News

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Norwich University officials will fly the Norwich flag today in honor of our first female graduate to be promoted to the rank of one-star in any branch of the military.

At a ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River today, CJ Jaynes, MBA'08, was promoted to rank of US Navy Rear Admiral.

RDML Jaynes is also the first female Admiral at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the first female Admiral in the Navy's Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO) community, according to COMFRC/AIR 6.0 Public Affairs Officer Kelly Burdick.

"We are very proud of CJ Jaynes for her distinguished Navy career and especially for her promotion to Flag Officer," said Norwich University President Richard Schneider. "We stress leadership development at Norwich University. As a new Rear Admiral CJ will have an opportunity to utilize her leadership skills to their fullest potential."

Jaynes graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1979 with a B.S. degree in mathematics education, followed by a master's degree in mathematics in 1982. She was commissioned in 1983 via the Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and designated an aeronautical engineering (maintenance) duty officer in 1985. She was designated an Acquisition Professional Community member in 1996 and received an M.B.A. from Norwich University in 2008. Jaynes also completed the Naval War College Command and Staff (non-resident) program in 1995, and earned a Systems Engineering Certification from California Institute of Technology Industrial Relations Center in 1999.

Jaynes' awards include the Legion of Merit (two), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with Service Star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and numerous unit awards.