Jerry E. Gaussoin Jr.
COL Jerry E. Gaussoin Jr a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Dine, Picuris Pueblo and French descent. Jerry is a jeweler and an Active Duty Logistics Officer of the United States Army for over 26 years. Jerry’s mentor/teacher for jewelry is his mother Connie Tsosie Gaussoin, he was taught the old traditional Dine methods and Jerry’s pieces today reflect this as he has also included a modern design element to these works of art. Jerry began making jewelry as a young school age and continued through his college years. COL Gaussoin took a short break from creating jewelry to focus on his new career as a United States Army Logistic Officer and in 2006 following a deployment restarted in designing/creating jewelry again. COL Gaussoin has held a variety of leadership and staff assignments in the continental United States and overseas consisting of Light Infantry, Aviation Support Command, Heavy Brigade Combat Team Armor, Strategic/theater Logistics and operations, Network Enterprise and Technology, US Army Recruiting Command, Advanced Individual Training Command, and Special Operations. COL Gaussoin’s education consists of both Military and Civilian military education including the Command and General Staff College, New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) (AA), New Mexico State University (NMSU)(BA), and Columbia Southern University (CSU)(MBA). COL Gaussoin is also a highly decorated Combat Officer of awards and decorations to include the Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal and two Foreign Parachutist Badges. COL Gaussoin is married to the former Stephanie Ader from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has four children; Sheldon 22, Nanibaa 21, Tyler 17 and Kehasbah 14.
Jerry’s jewelry has award recognition as a youth and young adult prior to his serve to the United States Army, which include Eight Northern Pueblos Council (ENIPC), Southwest Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), Heard Museum Indian Fair, and the Museum of Man. Additionally Jerry has pieces on permanent collections to include Phoenician resort Scottsdale AZ, and San Diego Museum of Man. Jerry’s has been invited to showcase at numerous prestigious exhibitions through his early and current years of creation. These shows include some of the following; Wheelwright Museum (Santa Fe NM), Southwest Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) (Santa Fe NM), Heard Museum Indian Fair (Phoenix AZ). Jerry’s art has also been published in numerous articles/books to include Ornament Magazine, and Creating with Metal, Dr.Gregory Schaaf.