Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Jasmine Walker Motupalli, who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Born out of a strong and diverse family of Veterans, Jasmine Walker Motupalli had always wanted to join the military in some way, shape or fashion. In the fall of 2001, this dream came true. After attending a summer program at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York, she knew she wanted to attend. Through her involvement in athletics such as track and striving in all her academics, Motupalli managed to make the dean’s list almost every semester. Joining the Military Intelligence Corps branch was also part of her West Point experience. She graduated in 2006 with a bachelor of science in operations research.
In Washington D.C., Motupalli trained as a special security officer prior to her deployment. As a second lieutenant, Motupalli served with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Texas, deploying to Mosul, Iraq, from 2007-2009. During her tour, she actively planned hostage rescues. In 2011, she deployed to Afghanistan after taking command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and 1st Armored Division. Motupalli served as the battle space owner in Logar Province. She later redeployed into operations research and systems analysis.
Motupalli received many awards and medals. In 2012, she received the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, symbolizing some of the most outstanding company grade Army officers of the year. Furthermore, she received a John M. King Award for her community service to Veterans. She also received recognition at the Kansas Capitol Graduate Research Summit for her work on the prevention of homelessness amongst Veterans transitioning from service.
Her awards and decorations include a Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, an Army Achievement Medal, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, a Combat Action Badge and a Meritorious Unit Citation.
Motupalli later graduated in 2014 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a master of science in operations research. Her love and passion for teaching led her to return to the West Point Department of Systems Engineering. She worked as an assistant professor until 2018, specifically as an analyst. Motupalli currently works as the head of Customer Experience Data & Insights at Gusto.
Thank you for your service!
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Writer: Madison Eberhardt
Editors: Annabelle Colton and
Fact checker: Carl Wesseln
Graphic artist: Kiki Kelley
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Thank you for your service; especially your work in hostage rescues. Hand Salute.