Engineer serves through civil career, military duty

Letohatchee native DeMarcus Jackson works as an engineer, combining military and civil service duties to serve his country.

As a civilian production and manufacturing engineer for the U.S. Jackson manages and tracks risks for helicopters, and as an Army National Guard officer, he works to ensure deployed troops can communicate as needed with no interruptions.

Recently, Jackson returned from a 10-month deployment to Poland and was welcomed back to his post at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile (DEVCOM) Center with a standing ovation.

“It felt amazing,” Jackson told DEVCOM Public Affairs Officer Katie Davis Skelley. Jackson, who serves as a captain in the Signal Corps, felt honored by the recognition. “Knowing that our support for the Warfighter goes further than just the assets that we provide — that we also support servicemen and women within the organization. Having that knowledge that leadership and management here is behind us 100% means a lot and makes you feel better about what you’re doing.”

While studying at Calhoun, Jackson joined the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), where he developed leadership skills and an interest in a military career. Participation in JROTC opened doors to higher education and ultimately an ROTC scholarship at the University of Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.

Jackson credits JROTC instructors Sergeant First Class Cody Calhoun, First Sergeant Eddie Howard and his family for offering support and being the “village,” he needed to strive for success.

“A lot of [my success] stemmed from having a village that continuously encouraged and motivated me to get exposure to every opportunity possible. The person at the root of all that was my grandmother (Audrey Jackson). She always told me that I can be and do whatever I wanted to do but it was up to me to put in that work and take advantage of any door that was open.”

Jackson lives in Huntsville now, quartered at the Redstone Arsenal, but returns to “the 45” as often as possible to visit his grandfather, Arthur Jackson, and other family members.

One relative, his aunt Annie Bailey, remembers Jackson as a youngster, who she babysat often.

“I feel real good, and grateful, about his service and recognition,” Bailey said. “Seeing his success is an inspiration to our local young people.”

The DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, is the Army’s research and development focal point for advanced technology in aviation and missile systems.