Jacqualynn Leak-Braynen

Jacqualynn Leak-Braynen is a U.S. Naval Officer, doctoral candidate in Executive Leadership at the University of Charleston, and a juvenile justice reform strategist based in Jacksonville, Florida. A survivor of youth incarceration and foster care, she brings lived experience into her professional and academic work, using it as a foundation to advocate for system-wide reform and improved outcomes for justice-involved youth. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Aligned with Purpose (YAwP), an organization dedicated to supporting at-risk and system-impacted young people through mentorship, leadership development, and evidence-based programming.

In her military career, Jacqualynn has served in a range of leadership and training roles within the United States Navy, progressing through enlisted ranks before commissioning as an officer. She currently serves in a training liaison capacity, supporting operational readiness and personnel development. Alongside her military service, she holds leadership positions in juvenile justice advocacy, including Advisory Board President for Duval Academy, where she contributes to policy, programming, and trauma-informed approaches to youth rehabilitation. She is also active in national professional communities focused on juvenile justice reform and systems leadership.

Her doctoral research focuses on how leadership mindsets, decision-making frameworks, and institutional patterns within juvenile justice systems influence reform efforts and youth recidivism outcomes. She integrates this research with practical, trauma-responsive strategies as a certified youth mental health first aid responder and crisis counselor. Guided by a commitment to service, resilience, and systems change, Jacqualynn’s work bridges military leadership, academic inquiry, and community advocacy to advance sustainable alternatives to youth incarceration.