Major Jill Rahon is an instructor with the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering. She graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2006 with Bachelor of Science Degree in Strategic History. She earned a Master of Science Degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2016.
Upon commissioning from West Point in 2006, Major Rahon completed the Aviation Officer Basic Course and Flight School XXI, earning ratings in the TH-67 and CH-47D. She was assigned to 6thBattalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 2008. In February 2008 to February 2009, she deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan as a Platoon Leader and pilot, flying general support missions in RC-East and South. In 2010, she deployed to Kandahar Airfield as the 6-101 AVN Logistics Officer and a pilot in command, flying air assault missions in support of coalition and special forces’ seizure of the Arghandab River valley. She became the HHC/6-101 Company Commander in 2010 and redeployed with the unit in 2011. In 2012 she took command of B/6-101 AVN, the brigade’s CH-47F medium lift company. In August 2012, she deployed to FOB Shank in Pul-e-Alam, Afghanistan, where B/6-101 AVN supported direct action missions for coalition and special forces.Major Rahon’s awards include the Air Assault Badge, Combat Action Badge, Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal (with numeral 3), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation, Afghan Campaign Medal (3 service stars), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal. Her unit awards include the Valorous Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Award.Her academic work focuses on radiation shielding and detection of shielded sources, most recently researching neutron radiography. She is currently teaching a course on the biological effects of radiation and radiological protection at USMA. She is active in education research and STEM field outreach in high schools, particularly to young women.
