Jessica Salinas, Director, Veterans Business Outreach Center at the University of Texas-Pan American

Jessica Salinas joined the Veterans Business Outreach Center in April of 2000 as a Business Development Specialist and in October 2001 was promoted to the position of director for the VBOC. Prior to joining VBOC and attending college Salinas, served in the United States Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor Naval Station from June 1992 to June 1994. Later she was reassigned to the United States Naval Reserve Training Center in Harlingen, Texas, where she continues to serve. Her military training has taken her to the Panama Canal and the U.S. Pacific Command at CINCPACFLT Hawaii. She serves her nation as a Personnelman Second Class.

While still a reservist in the Navy, Salinas continued her education by enrolling at The University of Texas-Pan American. As a student, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs employed Salinas as a VA work-study where she became familiar with veteran related affairs and issues. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with emphasis in International Business Management in August of 1999 and later went on to earn her Masters of Business Administration degree. As director, Salinas continually travels throughout the SBA's Region VI area, which includes the state of Texas and its four adjoining states servicing Veterans and Service Disabled Veterans with small business issues and concerns.

She has been appointed and has served or continues to serve on the following committees: Veterans Transportation Committee for Congressman Solomon Ortiz, the Veterans Advisory Committee for Hidalgo County, Planning Committee for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and the Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology Conference Planning Committee.

Salinas resides in the City of Edinburg, Texas with her husband and their two year old son.