Title: Vice President of Operations
Company: Knight-Swift Supply Chain
Location: Allen, Texas, United States
Vernard Jenkins II, EdD, Vice President of Operations at Knight-Swift Supply Chain, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Business Management and Leadership Development in the Supply Chain Sector.
A recognized leader in his industry, Dr. Jenkins has served as the vice president of operations for Knight-Swift Supply Chain in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, since 2024. In this role, he steers national fulfillment and support operations across more than 25 warehouses and a centralized support center. Dr. Jenkins’s responsibilities include large-scale strategic planning, organizational culture development, talent management and financial structuring. He also guides the alignment of corporate vision, staffing models and safety protocols during mergers and acquisitions while managing a workforce exceeding 1,000 employees.
Among other tasks, Dr. Jenkins ensures the seamless integration of operational systems and organizational values to drive enterprise-level performance. He is most proud of his ability to balance operational excellence with organizational culture, consistently improving performance through process optimization while fostering environments of inclusion and belonging.
Before pivoting into his current role, Dr. Jenkins was the executive director of operations for strategic projects and integration at Knight-Swift Supply Chain from 2023 to 2024. In this capacity, he led initiatives that supported the company’s growth and transformation efforts.
Recruited from H-E-B LP, Dr. Jenkins spent 2021 to 2023 as a senior operations leader for distribution strategy and performance in Houston, Texas. He began his tenure at H-E-B LP as an operations director for fulfillment and leadership development in 2020. During his time with the company, Dr. Jenkins advanced from managing a single facility to overseeing two facilities with approximately 5,600 employees.
Between 2017 and 2020, Dr. Jenkins excelled as the director of fulfillment operations for business turnaround at Stitch Fix in Dallas-Fort Worth. He was responsible for driving operational improvements during a period of significant change. Earlier in his career, Dr. Jenkins served as an operations manager for distribution turnaround and performance optimization at Target Brands for over five years, beginning in 2011.
Apart from his work in his field, Dr. Jenkins garnered success in entrepreneurship, owning and operating a local CrossFit gym from 2011 to 2019. He ran his fitness business while simultaneously managing his corporate career.
Dr. Jenkins’s professional journey began with distinguished service in the U.S. Air Force. Enlisting in 2003, he worked his way up from a senior manager for operational readiness and training development to a director of global operations planning and strategic partnerships in Misawa, Japan, between 2009 and 2011. Dr. Jenkins’s military background provided him with a foundation in leadership under pressure and strategic planning on a global scale.
Throughout his more than two decades of experience, Dr. Jenkins has developed expertise in leadership, leadership development and education, earning recognition as a top professional in these fields. He is praised for achieving a level of expertise that combines operational rigor with people-centered leadership.
Dr. Jenkins received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in sports management from the American Military University and a Doctor of Education in executive leadership from Houston Christian University. His academic experiences have been instrumental in shaping his approach to executive decision-making and talent development across diverse settings.
Notably, Dr. Jenkins’s time at the U.S. Air Force Academy was marked by athletic achievement. He played basketball for the academy team and became the first freshman starter in almost 15 years. More than two decades later, Dr. Jenkins remains among the top 10 all-time leaders at the academy for both assists and steals, a testament to his enduring impact on the program.
Dr. Jenkins is an active member of several organizations, including Black Executive Men and Kappa Delta Pi since 2025. He is also a partner with Black Leaders Worldwide and part of Vanguard of Black Gentlemen. These affiliations reflect Dr. Jenkins’s commitment to professional excellence and advocacy for diversity in leadership.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Dr. Jenkins is deeply engaged with civic organizations and educational initiatives. Since 2024, he has mentored youth through Academy 4 while also serving as a volunteer teacher with the Peer Assistance and Leadership Program at his son’s high school. At Braven Inc., Dr. Jenkins works closely with college students on essential leadership skills as a volunteer leadership coach. Furthermore, as the founder of the We Rock Leadership Collective, a volunteer-driven initiative grounded in values such as wellness, exploration, respect, ownership and quality, he partners with organizations to promote teamwork and end-to-end ownership in leadership practices.
Among his creative initiatives, Dr. Jenkins is recognized for hosting “Dinner Conversations with Dr. V” every Thursday, as well as “Intentional Mondays.” These projects highlight his dedication to fostering personal growth. Within local faith communities, Dr. Jenkins leads “Soft Skill Saturdays” once per month at his church, where he integrates faith-based principles into leadership development workshops. At another nearby church, he leads the K-12 grade “180 Ministry,” teaching soft skills to students across all grade levels. Dr. Jenkins is currently working on two books, one that will offer structured guidance on career advancement through promotion strategies, and another that will focus on presence in leadership.
Dr. Jenkins’s contributions have earned him several accolades recently, including Leaders You Need to Know by the Black Leaders Network and recognition among the Top 10 Global Influencers in Education at the Fluxx Conference, both earned in 2026. He attributes his success to an ability to reflect, adapt and work on himself throughout life’s challenges, learning from mistakes and applying those lessons toward future growth.
A proponent of continuous learning and self-reflection, Dr. Jenkins credits his ongoing curiosity and willingness to learn as key factors in his career advancement. He regularly reflects on his leadership practices, often during daily commutes, to identify lessons learned from mistakes and opportunities for improvement. This approach has enabled Dr. Jenkins to grow as a leader who makes meaningful impacts on individuals and organizations alike.
Looking ahead, Dr. Jenkins envisions advancing into broader executive roles. He is also considering contributing directly through education as an adjunct professor or high school teacher, particularly focusing on preparing students for workforce challenges by emphasizing soft skills alongside technical knowledge. Dr. Jenkins believes that while technology rapidly evolves, it remains critical not to lose sight of human connection within professional environments. Throughout each phase of his career, from military service through corporate leadership roles, he has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to operational excellence balanced with inclusive organizational culture while remaining committed to lifelong learning and community engagement.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Dr. Jenkins:
