Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army
DIRECTOR OF ARMY INSTRUCTION, SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jerry Cheatom is a native of El Dorado, AR. In 1976, upon graduation from Arkansas State University with a degree in Printing Technology, he was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate into the Active Duty force as an Infantry officer. A recipient of the university’s Distinguished Service Award, he was also the President of the Black Students Association and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Scabbard and Blade Military Society.
LTC Cheatom holds master’s degrees in Adult Education (Kansas St Univ) and School Administration (Trinity Univ); doctorate in Educational Leadership (Univ of Texas at San Antonio).
LTC Cheatom’s senior level assignments included Space Surveillance Commander, Space Defense Commander, and Chief, Training Evaluations, Standardization, and Exercises, United States Space Command, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base, CO; and Professor of Military Science, Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL.
LTC Cheatom has served an additional 22 years in uniform with JROTC as Senior Army Instructor(SAI) at Theodore Roosevelt and Sam Houston High Schools in San Antonio, TX, and as Director of Army Instruction for San Antonio Independent School District, where he continues service today. He also served as Assistant Principal for five years at Roosevelt High. He concurrently serves as a senior counselor for Texas American Legion Boys State and is a member of the Alamo Area, Texas, and National Alliances of Black School Educators. In essence, LTC Cheatom transformed 21 years of military experience into 27 years and counting of youth mentorship.
His awards include the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantry Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and U.S. Army Space Operations Badge.
His civilian awards and recognitions include the North East Independent School District Superintendent’s Award, induction into Phi Delta Kappa Educators Hall of Fame, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Psi Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, National Board of Rocks Inc Chairman’s Award for Exceptional Service, and ROCKS Inc Colonel Robert B. Burke Award.
LTC Cheatom and his wife Judith are the blessed parents of four daughters—Keyna, Amber, Mila, and Asante, and five grandchildren—Quinten, Camryn Lane, Grayson, Julius, and Cassian.
