Col. Jeri I. Graham, USA (Ret) earned her BSN Degree from the State University College, Plattsburgh, NY; MSN from Boston University School of Nursing; and Nurse-Midwifery Certificate from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN. She was board certified as a Nurse-Midwife. She had a wide variety of civilian clinical and academic experiences prior to commissioning in the Army Nurse Corps in 1978.

Her extensive experience as an Army Nurse culminated with successive assignments as Chief Nurse, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Hospital Commander, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. She earned the coveted Air Assault Badge and the Expert Field Medical Badge. She is a graduate of the Army War College and was awarded the “A” designator for professional excellence. She was also Board Certified by the American College of Healthcare Executives.

As a civilian, she served as President of the Army Nurse Corps Association, as a Commissioner on the NC Governor's Veterans Affairs Commission, and Vice-Commander/Legislative Chair of the NC Veterans Council. She received the NC Governor's “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” in recognition of her extensive service to North Carolina. She served as a MOAA Chapter President for seven years and as President of the NC Council of Chapters.