Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University, has been named among the six finalists for the 2024 Armed Forces Merit Award presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Coordinated by the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl staff, the Armed Forces Merit Award was created in June 2012 “to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that have an impact within the realm of college football.” The 2024 honoree of the Armed Forces Merit Award will be determined by a selection committee consisting of seven FWAA members and two representatives from the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. The recipient of the award will be announced on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, during a “live” mid-day Sports Center on ESPN.
Dr. Hawkins is a finalist for the fourth straight year and is joined on this year’s list by Colorado State and Wyoming’s Bronze Boot Run, Air Force veteran and Executive Director of the College Football Playoff Rich Clark, Army veteran and current Notre Dame kickoff specialist Eric Goins, Army Reservist and Jacksonville State quarterback Tyler Huff, and Marine veteran and Purple Heart recipient Bryce McDonald, who serves as Deputy Director of Football Administration at UCLA.
“Troy University has served the men and women of the U.S. military and their families for more than 75 years, and I believe this nomination is a reflection of that commitment,” Dr. Hawkins said. “I am proud to lead an institution that places such a high priority on educating those who serve our great nation, and I am grateful to the FWAA for recognizing TROY in this way.”
Dr. Hawkins is a member of the College Football Playoffs’ Board of Managers as a representative for the Sun Belt Conference and has been the Chancellor of Troy University since September 1, 1989, making him the longest-serving CEO of a public university in the nation.
After completing his bachelor’s degree in 1967 from the University of Montevallo, Dr. Hawkins was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a platoon leader during the Vietnam War. For his combat duty, he received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and a citation from the Korean Marine Corps.
From 2014 to 2017, Dr. Hawkins served on the Marine Corps University Board of Visitors and was a member of the Air University Board of Visitors from 2004 to 2012, serving as Chair from 2010 to 2012. The Secretary of the Air Force presented Dr. Hawkins the Distinguished Public Service Award in 2012 in recognition of his service to the United States Air Force.
Under Dr. Hawkins’ leadership, the TROY for Troops Center was created to meet needs unique to the military-affiliated student. The University also introduced the Military and Family Scholarship for active-duty military or reserves and their spouses or dependent children.
TROY is consistently recognized as a leading institution for members of the military and veterans by such publications as U.S. News and World Report, GI Jobs, Military Times Edge, Advanced Military Education, and more.
TROY’s service to the civilian community also extends to Vietnam, where in 2008 it became the first U.S. university to award the baccalaureate degree in that country. Today, TROY enrolls more than 1,000 students and has graduated more than 1,500 alumni in Vietnam.
Past recipients of the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA include Nate Boyer of the University of Texas (2012), Brandon McCoy of the University of North Texas (2013), Daniel Rodriguez from Clemson University (2014), Bret Robertson of Westminster College (Fulton, Mo., 2015), Steven Rhodes from Middle Tennessee State University (2016), Dr. Chris Howard from Robert Morris University (2018), Army West Point assistant coach Mike Viti (2019), Collin O’Donnell of Bluefield College of Virginia (2020), Damien Jackson of the University of Nebraska (2021), the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation (2022) and Tyler Huff (2023).
