Class of 2026: Army veteran Jerry Blakney Jr. jumps from Bronze Star to business

By Konrad Solberg

By the time Jerry Blakney Jr. arrived at Virginia Commonwealth University, he already had a lifetime of leadership experience.

The retired U.S. Army sergeant had served for 21 years, with a résumé highlighted by multiple deployments and a Bronze Star Medal for valor in combat. Through the Airborne School, Blakney spent his 30s jumping out of planes.

Now he is taking a different leap, at ground level. In graduating this spring from VCU’s School of Education with a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development, Blakney is adapting and growing in a new chapter of civilian life.

Blakney originally pursued special education for his studies, but “I realized I needed a major that allowed me to be more flexible,” he said. “Something that aligned with the leadership I’d practiced for two decades.”

Blakney pivoted to human and organizational development, whose focus on how organizations manage people appealed to him – including because he runs a real estate business with his wife. (“My wife is basically my boss,” he laughed.)

While many students develop their experience through internships in local offices, Blakney worked with his wife to purchase rental properties in the Dominican Republic. He credits his VCU education with providing a different view on running their business.

“It allowed me to go into our properties and see things in a different way,” he said, which prompted him to add automation and standard operating procedures to tasks that had been handled manually. That included creating digital guest books, which are accessible by QR code, and bilingual checklists for cleaning staff – the type of organizational upscaling he studied in his coursework.

Now Blakney shares his real estate experience online as well, mentoring others on international entrepreneurship. And coming to VCU after years of military experience, he often offered leadership in group projects with younger classmates.

“My background allowed me to help keep things moving in the right direction,” Blakney said. “I just tried to help the younger ones stay on task.”

As a veteran, both in military service and life experience, transitioning from national defense to academic papers wasn’t without hurdles. The steep learning curve of academic writing was a challenge as Blakney juggled international business with classroom discussion posts.

What helped him manage was a piece of advice he received years ago from an officer: the 80/20 rule.

“Eighty percent of getting things done is just staying on top of it,” Blakney said. “Once you get behind, that’s when you get stressed. If you turn things in on time and go to class, you’ll be fine.”

He might not be done with classes, either. Blakney is considering pursuing a master’s degree in real estate while he continues to expand his portfolios of property and online content.

In the current moment, though, graduation from VCU is another successful mission as he navigates the world of business.

“I’m just trying to upscale,” Blakney said. “I want to grab a couple more properties and keep things rolling.”