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GATESVILLE – A local military veteran with a penchant for helping Gates County young people reach their goals educationally served as the featured speaker here Monday at the annual Veterans Day service held in the 1836 Gates County Courthouse.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Sherley Jones, Jr., a native of Sunbury, talked about the importance of military service, how it builds character and leads to a life of serving in other ways.

A 1986 graduate of Gates County High School, Jones served 30 years in the United States Air Force and currently works for NASA.

In his role as a Director of Gates County Community Partnership (GCCP), Jones is part of a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire and increase community engagement by the citizens of Gates County for the educational and social development of its youth. The organization provides funding and sponsors various programs and activities supporting youth in Science Technical Engineering and Math activities, minority engagements for academia endeavors, college tours, career professions exposure, summer camps, and other events.

His life of service extends to helping those fighting substance abuse. Jones is a Pre-Licensed Mental Health and Substance Abuse Certification Professional, working part time as a therapist/counselor at Choice Therapeutic Solutions and Healing Waters Wellness and Counseling Center. He also works with men being released from prison through a transitional program aiding them in reorienting in society providing substance abuse and mental health counseling. Prior to this, he was counselor with Brightview Addiction Center.

His fulltime job is with NASA in Washington, DC as the Alternate Dispute Resolution and Equal Opportunity Manager and as the Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Programs Specialist at Wallops Flight Facility.

Jones served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force. That career saw Jones excel in assignments, human relations education and training, unit climate assessments, and wartime taskings that included force readiness, posturing, and sourcing. He held various positions at the squadron, wing, direct reporting unit and major command levels during his career.

Over the course of his military service, Jones was awarded the Meritorious Services Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal.

Jones holds a Bachelors degree in Workforce Education and Training Development from Southern Illinois University, a Masters degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, and completed the U.S. Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar in the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Monday’s salute to military veterans was presided over by Lyndon Askew, Gates County High School Class of 2010.