Jayton Rainey, Ph.D.

Chief Operating Officer

Jayton is a mission-driven leader with a proven record of
operational excellence, strategic execution, and institutional
stewardship across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors. With
more than a decade of leadership experience spanning executive
operations, governance, management consulting, and public
policy, Jayton brings discipline, judgment, and values-based
leadership essential to advancing the George and Barbara Bush
Foundation’s mission.

As a native Texan, born and raised farming in the Panhandle, Jayton
came to Texas A&M University where he was a member of the Corps
of Cadets and a drummer in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. Rising to
various leadership positions across campus, he brings a sense of
duty, teamwork, and respect for institutions that endure beyond
any one individual.

Jayton continued his education and obtained a Masters and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, where he was selected as the student speaker for the graduate student commencement ceremony. With research focused on federal policy and financial risk management, his work was deeply applied to supporting federal agencies, informing policymakers, and contributed to national discussions on resilience and stewardship of public resources. Throughout this period, Jayton led multidisciplinary teams across Texas A&M University and the University of Maryland, managed large-scale projects, and communicated intricate findings to senior government and institutional leaders.

After graduation, Jayton joined Accenture as a Technology and Strategy Consultant where he advised multiple Fortune 500 organizations on portfolio management, operational agility, and risk mitigation. Entrusted and selected by senior leadership to manage complex engagements, this experience sharpened Jayton’s ability to lead with precision, accountability, and professionalism.

In 2024, Jayton was recruited to join BlueForge Alliance, a defense contracting start-up focused on revitalizing the maritime industrial base, as a senior advisor and operational partner to executive leadership. In this role, he oversaw the creation of enterprise-wide operations, established performance and accountability frameworks, and led high-priority strategic initiatives. He implemented methods that drove cross-functional coordination, executive communications, and
decision-making processes that enabled clarity, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

For the past decade, Jayton and his wife, Alexandra González Rainey ’15, have been actively engaged with the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, the Bush School of Government and Public Service, and the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, developing a deep appreciation for the Bush legacy of service, leadership, and principled governance. At the core of Jayton’s leadership philosophy is a belief closely aligned with President George H.W. Bush’s example: that leadership is
a responsibility, not a platform, that service should be guided by humility and integrity, and that lasting impact is achieved through steady stewardship, collaboration, and quiet competence. As the Chief Operating Officer, Jayton is committed to honoring the Bush legacy by strengthening the Foundation’s operations, empowering its people, and ensuring the institution continues to serve with dignity, effectiveness, and purpose.