Captain Grace C. Jenkins
Captain Grace Jenkins, a native of Westlake, Ohio, commissioned in May 2018, through the NROTC Scholarship Program. Captain Jenkins earned her commission and a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina. After graduating from The Basic School in December 2018, she proceeded to Defense Information School at Fort Meade, MD for further training as a Communication Strategy and Operations (COMMSTRAT) officer .
While attending Defense Information School, Captain Jenkins earned the Major Megan McClung award at the Public Affairs Qualification Course. Following completion of the school, she executed orders to the II MEF information Group COMMSTRAT Company. Second Lieutenant Jenkins served as the II MIG COMMSTRAT Company liaison at Baltic Operations 2019 where she worked alongside 18 allied and partner nation’s public affairs teams and Naval Forces 6th Fleet.
After returning to CONUS Second Lieutenant Jenkins checked into Combat Logistics Battalion 6. In September 2019 she deployed with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response – Africa 20.1. While on SPMAGTF-CR-AF she participated in the Uganda Theater Security Cooperation and Moroccan Humanitarian Mine Action Program. While deployed, she was promoted to First Lieutenant.
Once complete with SPMAGTF-CR-AF 20.1 she returned to II MIG COMMSTRAT Company where she served as the assistant operations officer.
In 2021, the NROTC MOI Board selected 1stLt Jenkins to serve as the University of Hawaii 's first Marine Officer Instructor. First Lieutenant Jenkins reported to UH in June 2022 and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain.
Captain Jenkins is an active member of the all-Marine running team and has completed 17 marathons to include a 2:57:10 finish at the 2022 Houston Marathon.
Her awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.