Jennifer Pritzker

She was born James Nicholas Pritzker[3] to Robert Pritzker and Audrey (née Gilbert) Pritzker in Chicago, Illinois.[4] She grew up as a member of the Jewish Pritzker family as the granddaughter of family patriarch A.N. Pritzker.[4] She has two siblings, Linda Pritzker (b. 1953) and Karen Pritzker Vlock (b. 1958).[5] Her parents divorced in 1979, and she has two half-siblings, Matthew Pritzker and Liesel Pritzker Simmons, from the remarriage of her father, Robert, to Irene Dryburgh in 1980.[6] (Her mother also remarried, to Albert B. Ratner in 1981).[7]

Pritzker says her most memorable experiences in life were in Israel in October 1973 when she witnessed events of the Yom Kippur War.[3] Pritzker enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 8, 1974, and served with the HQ Troop, and with the B Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, rising to the rank of Sergeant.[3] Pritzker's roles while enlisted included aviation repair parts clerk, rifleman, and fire team leader.

After completing military service in February 1977,[3] Pritzker enrolled at Loyola University of Chicago, majoring in history, and entered its Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.[3] Pritzker graduated with a BA in History in May 1979, and received commission as an Army officer that same month.[3]

Pritzker first served with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with duty assignments that included leading rifle and TOW platoons, and time in the Commandant Division, and the Anti-Armor School.[3] Pritzker served as a staff officer with the VII Corps at Kelley Barracks, in Germany, from 1984–1985.[3] Her active duty ended in 1985.[8] After 16 years in the Army Reserves and Illinois Army National Guard,[9] Pritzker retired from the Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel, in 2001.[10] After retiring, Pritzker was made an honorary Illinois colonel.[8]

While serving, Pritzker was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with Star, the Antarctic Service Medal, the Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 20 year Device, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the State of Louisiana Legion of Merit, the State of Illinois Long and Honorable Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the State of Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with Numeral 7, the U.S. Army Parachute Badge and the Air Assault Badge.[8]

Pritzker earned airborne badges from Israel, Russia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Great Britain,[3][8] as well as from Poland;[8] according to Steven Mrozek, "Most memorable of these was a parachute jump at the North Pole with the Russians in 1993."[3]

Pritzker has founded or served with a number of business and philanthropic organizations. In 1996, she incorporated Tawani Enterprises, where she served as president and CEO,[3] a business entity with current stated purpose as a "private wealth management company established to manage the personal wealth, philanthropic endeavors, and military interests ... "[11][12] Interests of the company include significant Chicago real estate holdings.[13] In 1995, Pritzker created the Tawani Foundation, and in 2003, she founded the Pritzker Military Library, both dedicated to the understanding and support of the "citizen soldier."[8][9] In addition, Pritzker serves as Chairwoman of the Board of the Connecticut-based private equity firm Squadron Capital LLC, in which she has been identified a principal investor.[9][8][14] Finally, Pritzker has served as Special Projects Director for the National Strategy Forum,[15] as Chairman of the Board and co-owner of National Security Ltd. (1988–1995),[16][3] and is active in number of further philanthropic enterprises.[3]

In 2016, Jennifer Pritzker was presented the Bonham Centre Award from The Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto, for her contributions to the advancement and education of issues around sexual identification.[17]

Pritzker has a daughter, Tal Hava Pritzker (b. 1982), from a first marriage to Ayelet ben Mordechai,[28] and two sons, Andrew (b. 1991) and William, from her marriage to Lisa I. Goren.[3][8][33] As of 2014, she was divorced.[34][18]

On August 16, 2013, a statement was released to employees at Tawani Enterprises and the Pritzker Military Library indicating Pritzker to be the world's first transgender billionaire;[35] the announcement read:

As of August 16, 2013, J. N. Pritzker will undergo an official legal name change, will now be known as Jennifer Natalya Pritzker. This change will reflect the beliefs of her true identity that she has held privately and will now share publicly. Pritzker now identifies herself as a woman for all business and personal undertakings.[36]

On October 31, 2020, Jennifer N. Pritzker married Erin E. Solaro.[37]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jennifer Pritzker.

• Colonel (Hon.) (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library
• Tawani Foundation
• Appearances on C-SPAN