Born in 1940 in Flint, Jerry D. Jennings graduated from Grand Blanc High School in
1958. After leaving Grand Blanc, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, followed by service in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. The CIA hired him in 1965, where he worked for three years. He held multiple positions within the executive branch, including Deputy Director of the Secret Service System and then as Deputy Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 1990-1992 under President George H.W. Bush.

Jennings went on to prominence as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Affairs (POW/MIA), along with being the director of the Defense POW and Missing Personnel Office. Seeing the tragedy of war firsthand while in Vietnam gave him an appreciation for the impact not just on the service members, but also the challenges of those back home. He was in the position until December 2005 when he retired citing health reasons.

On October 16, 2004, The Grand Blanc High School Alumni Association honored Jerry with the Distinguished Alumni Award.