Lt. Colonel Jerry Cox has been a member of Whiskey University since late 2022. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Jerry earned His Bourbon Diploma on February 15, 2022 after passing eight classes. 

Jerry’s career in Architecture ended in 2019 after 42 years of business. A “Navy Brat”, he lived in multiple U.S. states and European countries until settling in Virginia Beach in the early 1960’s. Developing an interest in design in the 8 th grade and graduating from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1977, he founded “Cox, Kliewer & Company, P.C.” and completed over 17 million square feet of commercial facilities in 27 states before retiring in 2019. Jerry has been married to Susan since 1978 and has three “children” and four grandchildren. Jerry & Sue bought a second home in Ontario, NY in 2019 in order to be closer to family and promotes Whiskey University in the Rochester, New York and Southeast Virginia markets.

Jerry is a graduate of the Spring Class of 2023,  graduating from Whiskey University on April 11, 2023, where he has earned his Associate of Science degree with 18 classes, and the title of "Certified Bourbon Taster". Cox completed his 26th course, earning his Bachelor’s of Science degree and the rank of First Lieutenant in the Bourbon Brigade on June 1th, 2023.

Much of his business involved entertaining Clients and he eventually went from wine to white spirits, but his interest in whiskeys began in the 2017. Following the “Bourbon Trail” in 2018 with three friends, the history, the processes, and the connections to the founding of the United States only expanded and solidified his passion. So, in 2020, he co-founded the “Coastal Virginia Whiskey Society”, serving on the Executive Committee as the “Whiskey Wrangler” responsible for researching and acquiring new and existing varieties of whiskeys for quarterly tastings.

Whiskey University became an interest in 2018 as it was simply a great vehicle to continue his passion for history and information. What began as a passing interest has grown to a hunger for more and more information. Jerry has completed Majors in the “Bluegrass Region, Bourbon Capital and in Craft Whiskey” as he continues to expand his studies. Jerry became a “Chartered Master Whiskey Taster” with the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade after taking his 52th class and earning his Master of Arts Degree in November of 2023.