Jack Hawkins Jr., chancellor of Troy University and a decorated Vietnam veteran, has been named 2025 Patriot of the Year by the Mobile Bay Area Veterans Commission.

Dr. Hawkins, a native of Mobile, served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer during the Vietnam War. He received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and a citation from the Republic of Korea Marine Corps for his service as a lieutenant and platoon leader.

Following his military service, Dr. Hawkins began a distinguished career in higher education. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Montevallo and completed his doctorate at the University of Alabama.

His early leadership roles included serving as assistant dean at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and later as president of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.

On September 1, 1989, Dr. Hawkins became Troy’s chancellor.

He is now the longest-serving chief executive of a public university in the nation. Under his leadership, Troy has built a national reputation as one of the country’s most military-friendly universities.

When Military Tuition Assistance was canceled during the recent federal government shutdown, Dr. Hawkins responded quickly.

“As a Marine, I learned you never leave anyone behind on the battlefield,” he said.

The university committed to covering tuition assistance for active-duty service members to ensure their education was not interrupted. Troy’s Military and Family Scholarship, which lowers tuition to $250 per credit hour and covers textbooks, further helps remove out-of-pocket costs for military students.

Over the years, Dr. Hawkins has been recognized for both his military service and his leadership in education.

His honors include the University of Montevallo’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, the All-American Football Foundation’s “Top College President” award, induction into the Murphy High School Hall of Fame, the Secretary of the Air Force Distinguished Public Service Award, and the World Confucius Institute’s Individual Performance Excellence Award — the only North American recipient.

He has also served on several boards, including the Daniel Foundation, the College Football Board of Managers, and the Business Council of Alabama.

Dr. Hawkins and his wife, Janice, have two daughters. Their family includes military and athletic ties, with one daughter having served as a U.S. Air Force officer and the other practicing law. They are grandparents to four grandchildren.

The Patriot of the Year recognition honors Dr. Hawkins’ lifelong dedication to service, leadership, and commitment to those who serve the nation.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].