About John
With more than 20 years experience serving our country, John M. Yourse is now ready to serve District 9. Compelled by the need for Responsive Government, Responsible Development and Respectful Environmental Planning, his new mission is to be the straightforward, unbiased representative of the people in all neighborhoods of District 9. Having worked and lived in six countries throughout the world, John is uniquely qualified for this responsibility, offering a worldview and experience in addressing the goals and growth of this district and Dallas.
John holds a Masters Degree in Education Administration and has taught in the Dallas Independent School District for the last 10 years. John also worked in Dallas County Drug Offender rehabilitation programs and Adult Basic Education, as well as coordinated summer youth projects for underserved youth in and around Dallas County. He earned the adulation of his superiors, students and parents for his tough, fair, yet thoughtful and ethical approach to challenges.
Currently, John serves in the Texas Air National Guard as Head of the Equal Opportunity Services 136th Airlift Wing, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. His office is now established as the most productive and well-run office in the state. John recently completed his voluntary deployment to the Middle East as the Air Forces chief investigator in matters related to equal treatment, sexual harassment and maltreatment of service members. These duties took him to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
But it is here at home in District 9 that John proudly seeks to serve. Having lived in District 9 for many years, John and his wife, Traci, cherish and wish to ensure for future generations all the benefits this community has to offer their family. Whether playing with his two girls, Sydney (5) and Audrey-Leigh (3), in their front yard, running around White Rock Lake or taking the family dog, Tilly, to the dog park, John truly appreciates the value of enjoying an active lifestyle in White Rock Lake’s beautiful surroundings. John’s love for our community, firsthand knowledge of our school system and expertise in facilitating mutually derived positive outcomes make him the best candidate for District 9.
MILITARY CAREER
John Yourse is a 1986 graduate of Canisius College, Buffalo, NY. As a full ROTC scholarship recipient, he was the first in his school’s history to be chosen to be an Army pilot while in his junior year of college. Upon college graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation branch of the United States Army. His initial assignment was border duty in Fulda, Germany, where he served as platoon leader for multiple scout helicopter troops, Executive Officer for the Headquarters in Headquarters unit and interim Commander of that unit.
In 1989, after tour completion and promotion to Captain, he proceeded to the Army’s Officer Advanced Course at Ft. Rucker, AL with a follow on assignment to Ft. Riley, KS in the 1st Infantry Division as an Operations Officer on the Aviation Brigade staff. After a year on staff, he was selected for special duty as a United Nations Military Observer on the MINURSO mission in Western Sahara as the Operations Officer and Army Liaison. In this position, Captain Yourse was directly responsible for flight operations, safety and community coordination with local officials regarding military affairs.
Upon returning to Ft. Riley, Captain Yourse was reassigned to Camp Stanley (Republic of Korea) where he was assigned as Company Commander for the headquarters unit of the 2nd Infantry Divisions Aviation Brigade. During this 15 month remote assignment, he was directly responsible for the training, daily welfare and readiness of 170 soldiers in 17 sections and property resources valued in excess of 20 million dollars. Upon leaving this assignment he was reassigned to operations duties on Ft Dix, NJ and subsequently promoted to Major.
After leaving the active service in the fall of 1995, he moved to Texas and began a career as a teacher in the public school system in Dallas. Rejoining the military in 1999, he was hired as a member of the command staff to oversee the unit’s move to its current location and establish the Wings Equal Opportunity program at the new site. The unit’s EO office is now established as the most productive and well-run office in the state, with the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Yourse as the state’s senior EO representative in the Texas Air Guard.
In 2006, Colonel Yourse accepted a voluntary deployment to the Middle East as the Air Forces chief investigator in matters related to equal treatment, sexual harassment and maltreatment of service members while deployed. These duties took him to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
EDUCATION
Canisius College Bachelors, Mass Communications
Prairie View A&M University, Masters Education Administration
Initial Entry Rotary Wing, (Aero-scout pilot training) Ft. Rucker, Alabama
Cavalry Leader School, Ft. Knox, Kentucky
Army Officer Advanced Course, Ft. Rucker, Alabama
Command and General Staff College
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Board of Directors, Dallas Services and Lighthouse for the Blind
Dallas Public Library membership and outreach committee
Society of St. Vincent DePaul
Member, Community Advisory Board for KERA
Board Member, Hillside Neighborhood Association
