Jane Dyer’s easy confidence shows whether she’s speaking to voters or chopping onions as she makes lunch for a team of volunteers. Her daily life reflects her warm, open personality and genuine interest in what you have to say.
This is no surprise, considering her family, where she grew up, where she went to school. What may surprise some is her keen mind and enthusiasm for solving complex problems.
Her clarity may come from her mechanical engineering degree from Clemson. Or from lessons learned flying a USAF jet as a young woman. Or from her captaining flights of a FedEx Airbus 300 as she travels across the US and Europe.
Clearly, Jane is a focused, determined learner and leader, one who sees difficult tasks as challenges to overcome.
“I’ve trained all my life to lead and to help others. I have made a habit out of accomplishing the impossible,” Jane says. “Even though I’ve traveled all over the world and all across America, I can’t imagine living anywhere but here in South Carolina.”
In fact, it’s Jane’s love for the Palmetto State and her vision for its future that helped her make the decision to run for the US Congress.
“We need new energy and action, and everywhere I go, South Carolinians remind me that they expect change now,” she comments. “It is not about being right or following a certain ideology; it is about fixing the problems.”
Growing Up
- Easley native
- Sixth of 8 children
- Father small business owner
- Member of Pendleton Street Baptist Church in Greenville
Education
- Honors grad of Easley, SC High School
- Member of basketball team
- Clemson grad/mechanical engineering, class of ‘81
- First female commander of Air Force ROTC
Professional
- One of USAF first female jet pilots
- Captain USAF
- FedEx pilot for last 20 years
- Currently, A300 Captain flying across US and Europe
Family
- Husband John, retired USAF pilot, Vietnam vet, Purple Heart award
- Sons Bill at College of Charleston; Tony at Emory University
- Stepchildren Amy, a middle school teacher, and John, a Southwest Airlines and National Guard pilot who is heading for duty in Afghanistan January 2010
- Three grandchildren
