Throughout Tammy Jones’ early childhood, her dad was in the U.S. Army, and the patriotism and service to others he instilled had a big impact on her. During high school, Jones enjoyed participating in both the Army and Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. After graduating, in December 1985, she decided to enlist in the U.S. Air Force.

While on active duty in the Air Force, at the age of 19, Jones was stationed in England as a maintenance scheduler for F-111 aircraft when she had a motor vehicle accident. This resulted in a complete spinal cord injury, leaving her a quadriplegic.

In 1986, during her initial rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Spinal Injuries Center, a social worker told Jones and her family to look into Paralyzed Veterans of America when they returned to the US. A few months later, after arriving at James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, FL, Jones met a gentleman from PVA who was there to help her. For Jones, that was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with the organization.

Since joining PVA in 1987, Jones has been involved with multiple chapters of the organization. She has been a board member, sports and recreation director, secretary and most recently, President of the Texas Chapter.

Jones’ work on PVA Committees include the Field Advisory Committee, Planned Giving Committee, and Women Veterans Healthcare Committee. She proudly represents PVA on the VA Prosthetics Women Veterans Emphasis Work Group. Jones wants people to be aware of the impact that PVA’s collaboration with Yale University’s Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration, and University of Pittsburgh’s Human Engineering Research Laboratories, has had on research advances to benefit the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury and disorders.

Jones was re-elected National Vice President of PVA during the organization’s 73rdAnnual Convention in May 2019, and began her new, one-year term on July 1, 2019. One of the most important things she has learned from serving on PVA’s Executive Committee is that “There are many talented and valuable PVA members, both male and female, who can help us continue to move PVA forward.”

Married since 1999, Jones and her husband, Dale, enjoy riding on their motorcycle and making the most out of each day. Jones’ hobbies include NASCAR, hunting, music, and adaptive sports.