Gina DeJarnette started her career as a professional horse rider and trainer in the Hunter/Jumper discipline. From there, she channeled her adventurous spirit in a different direction and enlisted in the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst. After a long career in the Army, she retired as an All-Source Analyst in 2021 before beginning her position at COLSA.
When we asked Gina what drew her to COLSA, she told us it was our core values that really stuck out to her:
“The fact that teamwork, people, and customer service were listed as part of COLSA’s core values says a lot about where their commitments lie. This is what first attracted me to applying for my position. These are not values you often see listed under defense companies. I most commonly saw values that fall in line with innovation, excellence, respect, and accountability, but I was looking for a company that I would want to stay with long-term that could provide stability and a positive work culture, while caring about their employees.”
Applying Her Experience to Support Critical Missions
Gina is COLSA’s Colorado Operations Facility Security Manager (FSO), specifically supporting the Bounty Hunter program under the United States Space Force. In her role, she provides industrial security support to ensure compliance with all aspects of the Bounty Hunter program. This includes personnel, physical, and administrative adherence of security procedures and requirements.
Gina brings a wealth of experience to her current role at COLSA, both from her Analyst roles in the military and her academic knowledge with the following degrees:
- Associate of Science degree in Intelligence Operations Studies from Cochise College
- Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Industries Management and a Certification in Artificial Insemination of Large Animals from the University of Minnesota-Crookston
- Master of Science degree in Security Management with a concentration in Operational Security from the University of Denver
Where Gina DeJarnette Excels
Gina brings many skills to her role as the Colorado Operations FSO, but she says her main superpowers are multi-tasking and organization. She told us, “I am very skilled in prioritizing and completing multiple tasks at once, and very quickly.”
She also emphasized that teamwork is extremely important to her, and she shows it by always taking care of her team’s needs before anything else sharing, “I hate to let employees wait on any actions that are needed and always ensure that they are taken care of first.”
Gina’s Adventures Outside of COLSA
Gina has always loved being active. She played soccer and rode on the Equestrian Team for the University of Minnesota, and now she loves hiking and experiencing the Coloradan outdoors with her pups.
Gina has been married to JaJonelle (JJ) for 23 years! They have 3 beautiful “furbabies” named Loomy (Carolina Dog), Nala (Carolina Dog), and Yoda (Chihuahua that was rescued). She loves showing her two Carolina Dogs and competing in many performance events (dog sports) that include Dock Diving, Lure Coursing, Fast CAT, Course Ability Test, Scent Work, and more.
Her dog Loomy has won 42 titles across associations, including the following:
- #1 United Kennel Club (UKC) ranked Carolina Dog two years running
- #2 UKC ranked Sighthound and Pariah Dogs
- 2025 North American Diving Dogs (NADD) National Champion for Novice Distance Jumping
- 2023 American Kennel Club (AKC) Fast CAT Invitational Best of Breed Winner
Her dog Nala has won 20 titles across associations and is a 5th generation puppy from the original few that were wild caught that started the domestic preservation breeding program.
Did you know that Carolina Dogs are an ancient, extremely rare dog breed and that they are considered America’s first dog? Gina shared that fun fact with us, and that’s why she is a proud Board Member of the Carolina Dog Society of America (Carolina Dog’s National Breed Club).
Grow with Us
As COLSA grows, we continuously seek qualified talent to join our Family of Professionals. Check out our Careers page to learn more about working for COLSA.
