Equity, Impact, Influence

Jaqueline Thompson

In her career, Thompson served boots on the ground in Afghanistan during the War on Terror. Her role as a leader was as a totem of stability to those that served under her.

"I lead by focusing my energy on the needs of the team.  People always come first. The leader's responsibility is to empower followers, develop their skills, and provide feedback. The environment is always changing, so you need to trust in your team.  In turn, the team will trust in you to listen and make hard decisions."

Walking through the aisles of a grocery store, Captain Jacqueline Thompson had on her U.S. Army attire. A proud Army logistics officer, Captain Thompson served in Afghanistan as a convoy commander and served in the military combat for over nine years. As she walked the aisles picking out groceries, her experiences were a badge of honor on her heart.

But then, people came up to her and thanked her for her husband’s service.

Captain Thompson is used to similar remarks, but wishes they weren’t so common.

“My main hope is that it becomes normal. That it’s not so much of a novelty,” Captain Thompson said about seeing women in roles like hers. “It’s ok to go into one of these fields and to enjoy it.”

Despite the commonality of others misinterpreting her role, those assumptions do not deter from Captain Thompson’s powerful experiences and her leadership insight. 

Growing up, Captain Thompson never foresaw herself pursuing a career in the military. When she was in her third year of college she was exposed to instances where she observed the military was lacking leadership. She was inspired to join with the goal of pursuing a position in leadership. Attending combat training immediately following college, Captain Thompson unknowingly walked into what would become the calling of her life.

In her career, Captain Thompson served boots on the ground in Afghanistan during the War on Terror. Her role as a leader to those that served under her was, first and foremost, to be a totem of stability. 

Captain Thompson remarked, “you are facing a threat and getting yourself mentally and emotionally prepared to swallow down those fears, because you know that everyone is going to be watching you. Everyone is going to be looking to you for guidance and leadership and making sure you’re walking out there confident ready to go.” 

On the grounds in Afghanistan, there were times when Captain Thompson was in a line of forty military vehicles that had to discern whether an explosive device was lying hidden on the road in front of them. She described having to lean on her subordinates in the decision to either move forward or go back. For Captain Thompson, leadership has often dealt in life or death. However, it was never a question as to whether she wanted to take on that role. 

“I was happy to be in that role because I knew I would be the person to accept that role with a care for my subordinates,” she said. “If anyone had to carry the burden, I wanted it to be me.”

As a leader, Captain Thompson described the importance of getting to know who you are leading. It’s by learning about her subordinates she was able to make the best decisions on missions. In her line of work, the right decision is of the utmost urgency. 

“Assuming leadership in the military has been unlike any other leadership position. One thing that makes it absolutely unique is that you’re responsible for all aspects of that person’s life. You’re not just responsible for what happens in your nine to five… you’re responsible for their health, their morale, their welfare. Making sure they have a financial plan. Making sure that if they do deploy that their family is taken care of” and everything in between. 

When Captain Thompson first joined the military, women were not allowed to serve in the infantry. She came up in a patriarchal society. By being in the military, she has served not only for our country, but for the women who couldn’t have dreamed of a life like Captain Thompson’s.

In 2015, the military made all roles available to women. “My one hope is that women keep pushing themselves,” she said. “I mean they already are. They are out there in the ranks.” Captain Thompson relayed that since women have had the opportunity to serve, there have been women in foxholes, driving tanks, and more.

Captain Thompson’s life has been one devoted to serving the United States in a way that is nothing short of intense, inspirational, and honorable. While she has faced microaggressions and discrimination throughout her career in regard to her gender, her perseverance is a testament to her commitment to her mission. Captain Thompson has served as an impactful role model to future generations. 

Thankfully, not everyone thanks her for her husband’s service.

“I’ll never forget one time I was in uniform and stopped at a gas station and I was not near a military post. There was a girl with her father and she just pointed at me and said “Look it’s a girl soldier!” and you could just tell from the tone of her voice that it hadn’t even crossed her mind that women could be soldiers too. I think it’s important for young girls to see women not just in the army, but as airline pilots, and engineers, and working in construction… doing all these things.”

Captain Jacqueline Thompson is currently pursuing a degree in social-organizational psychology at Teachers College of Columbia University. From there, she will go on to teach as a professor at the United States Military Academy.

Image courtesy of Captain Jacqueline Thompson.

Captured April 2021

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