Moe & Gene Johnson High School and Hays CISD are proud to announce the founding instructor selections for the JHS Air Force JROTC program:
Colonel (Ret.) Shelly L. Mendieta will be the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at TX-20264, Johnson High School in Buda, Texas. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and F-15E Weapon Systems Officer, she brings more than 25 years of leadership, operational, and instructional experience to the AFJROTC classroom. During her Air Force career, she accumulated more than 2,400 flying hours as an instructor/evaluator and flew more than 100 combat missions, commanded in Afghanistan, served as Vice Commander of the 39th Air Base Wing in Turkey, and concluded her career at Air Education and Training Command. Today, she is focused on developing cadets as leaders and citizens of character while continuing to serve as Communications Director for the Military Aviator Coalition for Health and as a Board Director for Women in Military Aviation.
Senior Master Sergeant (Ret.) Jacqulyn N. Rider will be the Aerospace Science Instructor at Johnson High School. After 22 years of dedicated service, Senior Rider retired from the United States Air Force in March 2026. While in the USAF, she held multiple positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of leadership. Her final position was the Religious Affairs Senior Enlisted Leader at United States Special Operations Command in Tampa, FL. SMSgt. Rider is a home-grown leader, having graduated from Hays High School in 2002, where she spent 4 years in the Marine Corps JROTC.
Full bios for these tremendous leaders are attached. Both will be completing onboarding with AFJROTC program and will soon send out details about an information night for parents, students, and the community. Please help us in welcoming Col Mendieta and SMSgt. Rider to Johnson High School.