Talking to Michele S. Jones, a retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj., she will be the first to admit that she never had aspirations for many of the titles that have been bestowed upon her during her Army career. Some of those titles have included the first woman to serve as the Command Sgt. Maj. in the Army, 2005 recipient of the NAACP Meritorious Service Award, and Essence magazine’s 35 of the World’s Most Remarkable Women.

She will say that her success can be attributed to her drive, determination, passion and ability to take advantage of the opportunities that were presented to her. After 25 years of Army service, Jones is now serving as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense White House Liaison. Jones is responsible for managing and staffing political appointee slots within the Department of Defense. She is also a member of the White House’s Council on Women and Girls.

“I just wanted to be exceptionally good at what I did,” says Jones. “My parents instilled this desire in me, but I never wanted to forget the opportunities that were presented to me. It is incredibly important that I also pay that forward and open doors for others to succeed.”

Indeed, Jones has made it her mission to instill life skills, Army values and motivation into young people across the country. She has participated in the Army’s Planning for Life program, which provides tools for middle and high school students to plan for success in education, career, fitness and personal development. Jones has spoken to more than 45,000 students during the program.

“I want students to understand that everyone has a talent, regardless of the challenges that you have faced in your life,” says Jones. “I want them to know that they have control of the decisions they make, and if they commit to the right choices and cultivate that talent, they will be successful. I don’t go into these seminars wanting to make a difference in just one child; I want to affect all of them.”

Jones will be a part of the panel discussion on “Baseball and Civil Rights” at National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on Friday, May 14, as part of the Major Baseball League’s 4th Annual Civil Rights Game.

“The Army and baseball share many similarities, even though the playing fields are different,” says Jones. “Everyone on the team must adhere to the rules of the game and the values of the team to win. Just like baseball, the Army isn’t an individual sport.”