Tammy Jones’ dad was in the Army throughout her early childhood, and the patriotism and service to others he instilled had a big impact on her. During high school, Jones enjoyed participating in both the Army and Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. After graduating in December 1985, she decided to enlist in the U.S. Air Force.
While on active duty in the Air Force, at the age of 19, Jones had a motor vehicle accident when she was stationed in England as a maintenance scheduler for F-111 aircraft. This resulted in a complete spinal cord injury, leaving her a quadriplegic.
In 1986, during her initial rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Spinal Injuries Center, a social worker told Jones and her family to look into Paralyzed Veterans of America when they returned to the U.S. A few months later, after arriving at James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, Florida, Jones met a gentleman from PVA who was there to help her. For Jones, that was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with the organization.
Since joining PVA in 1987, Jones has been involved with multiple chapters of the organization. She has been in leadership roles with three separate chapters in positions ranging from board member to president.
Jones’ work on PVA Committees include the Field Advisory Committee, Planned Giving Committee, Resolution Committee and Women Veterans Committee.
Jones is a strong advocate for female veterans and serves on its Anita Bloom Women Veterans Committee, named for a paralyzed woman veteran. She is an instrumental part of PVA's Women's Empowerment Retreat and Webinar Series, and advocates on Capitol Hill to highlight the unique healthcare needs of women veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases.
Jones wants people to be aware of the impact that PVA’s collaboration with Yale University’s Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Human Engineering Research Laboratories, has had on research advances to benefit the lives of individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders and the general population.
Jones was re-elected National Senior Vice President of PVA in May 2026 during the organization’s 80th Annual Convention, to begin a new, one-year term on July 1, 2026. Before her first election to senior vice president in 2024, Jones had previously served as a national vice president for six years. One of the most important things she has learned from serving on PVA’s Executive Committee is that “there are many talented and valuable PVA members, both male and female, who can help us continue to move PVA forward.”
Married since 1999, Jones and her husband, Dale, enjoy seeing the beautiful country from their RV and making the most out of each day. Jones’ hobbies include NASCAR, hunting, music, adaptive sports, spending time with family and friends, and relaxing beside the water.
