By Ron Neff, American Legion Director for Americanism
On August 23, 2025, the American Legion, Americanism Division, honored Army JROTC instructor and retired Col. Jeffrey L. Gaylord with the 2025 National Education Award for his dedication to the pursuit of educational excellence for JROTC.
Mark Avis, American Legion Chairman for the Americanism Division, presented the award to Gaylord at the 2025 American Legion National Convention in Tampa, Florida, to recognize his contributions to the education of our youth.
“This award may be presented to me, but it is due to the incredible JROTC Instructor teams and outstanding cadets that make the Rutherford County School JROTC programs and the CTE Department such an example for all to emulate,” said Gaylord. “Our JROTC instructor teams and school administration teams see the value of investing in educating our youth to be the leaders of the future.”
Gaylord became a JROTC instructor in June 2016 as a Senior Army Instructor at Northeast High School, Clarksville, Tennessee, and transferred to Blackman High School, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in January 2020. He served as the Senior Army Instructor until July 2024 when he assumed the role of Director of Army Instruction for Rutherford County Board of Education within 7th Brigade JROTC.
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