Forty Under 40: Brian T. Jackson

When Brian Jackson, 36, went into the U.S. Air Force Academy he knew he’d eventually return to Rogers and work for the company where his dad was a founding partner.

He decided to major in civil engineering so he would have a place at the architecture and engineering firm when he completed his duty for the Air Force.

After graduating in 1995, Jackson served as a navigator on C-130s until 2003. He then returned to Rogers and interned under an engineer at Freeland Kauffman & Fredeen for four years before taking his licensing exam in April 2007.

Upon receiving his engineering license, Jackson began working for Hight-Jackson Associates that July.

In January, Jackson became a principal in the firm.

He also continued in the Air Force as a member of the reserves. He became a major in 2007 and now works as a liaison officer to the Air Force Academy.

Jackson said he has always had a competitive spirit and an inner drive to succeed.

“I don’t like to fail, but the biggest key is to learn from those situations and get better,” he said. “You don’t want to make the same mistakes over and over again.”

Jackson has taken an active role in the community since he was a student at Rogers High School

“The more you give back to the community, the stronger the community is,” he said.