Thursday, March 10, 2022

This special evening of networking, hosted by (Aggie Owned) Stiles Switch BBQ, includes:

5:00-6:00 pm Social
6:00 pm BBQ Dinner 
6:12 pm Announcements and Introductions
6:30 pm Program
7:30 pm Conclude

Ryan Brauninger

Ryan joined TexAgs in August of 2015. A college baseball player at McNeese State (Class of ’09), he moved to College Station in 2010 to pursue a Master’s in sport management at Texas A&M. Since receiving his degree, Ryan has been active in the youth sports scene in the Brazos Valley, the state, and region; including a summer stint with USA Baseball. He is a member of the TexAgs Recruiting team and a baseball analyst.

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

COL. Michael T. (Rip) Ripley, ‘94

COL Michael T. Ripley graduated from Texas A&M University in 1994 as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant.

As an Infantry Officer, he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Support Platoon Leader in the Republic of Korea with the 9th and 20th Infantry Regiments. He later served as a Company Executive Officer and Support Platoon Leader with the 87th Infantry Regiment in the Republic of Panama. COL Ripley graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1999, and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). As a Detachment Commander, he participated in the Colombian Counternarcotics Initiative and deployed to Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay. In 2001, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG(A) in Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. He served as a Detachment Commander in Operations SILENT JEOPARDY and SECURE TOMORROW in Haiti. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th SFG(A) in 2004, where he commanded the CENTCOM Crisis Response Element during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM VIII. COL Ripley deployed in 2007 and 2008 with 7th Group Headquarters as the CJSOTF‐A J35 for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM X and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM XII. In 2008, he assumed command of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG(A) and deployed to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, and Trinidad and Tobago.

From 2010 to 2013, COL Ripley served in Joint Special Operations Command as Aide‐de‐Camp to Commander JSOC, J5 Strategic Plans Officer, and J35 Future Operations Officer. COL Ripley assumed command of the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) Brigade Special Troops Battalion in June 2013 in Bamberg, Germany and later that year moved the Battalion to Vicenza, Italy where he led the unit through multiple international exercises. COL Ripley was assigned to NATO SOF Headquarters as Military Assistant to Commander NSHQ in August 2015, and assumed the Chief of Staff position from June 2016 – July 2018.

Most recently COL Ripley served for two tears as the Deputy Commander, 7th Special Forces Group at Camp Bull Simons, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He now serves as the United States Army Special Operations Command to Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas.

COL Ripley’s military and civilian education include: the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Ranger School, Special Forces Qualification Course, SERE School, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance and Target Exploitation Techniques Course, Joint Targeting Course, Command and General Staff College, and the School of Advanced Military Studies. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Greg Hartman

Greg Hartman serves as chief operating officer and senior vice president of the Texas A&M University, and vice chancellor for strategic initiatives, The Texas A&M University System. Prior to this role at Texas A&M University, he served as the chief operating officer and senior vice president for the Texas A&M Health Science Center.

Hartman is a former health care executive with more than 30 years of experience and responsibility in executive management, strategy, health policy, marketing, communications, government relations and philanthropy. He joined The Texas A&M University System as vice chancellor of strategic initiatives in January 2019, focusing on collaborations among institutions within the system on key priorities. He has been heavily involved on health care initiatives such as Engineering Medicine and Healthy Texas. In August of 2019, Hartman was asked to take over responsibility for operations of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. In 2021 Hartman was asked to join Texas A&M University as chief operating officer and senior vice president of strategic programs.

Before joining Texas A&M, Hartman served in a number of executive roles for over 15 years with Seton Healthcare, a $2 billion hospital system in Central Texas. This included as CEO of the system’s two largest hospitals, overseeing academic and research programs affiliated with the University of Texas System and responsibility for public partnerships and the system’s foundations. He was heavily involved in the creation of a unique collaboration between Seton, the University of Texas at Austin and the UT System to bring translational medical research and academic medicine to Austin.

Before joining Seton, Hartman worked around the nation as a consultant on management and operations, strategic planning, public affairs and communications. He was a managing director for Public Strategies, Inc., a corporate strategy firm, and a senior partner with MGT of America, a national management consulting and research firm. He also served as a senior executive in the Texas State Comptroller’s office.

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Joseph “Joe” W. Ashy, ’62

There is a lot going on at A&M that most people don’t hear or read about.  Under Joe Ashy’s leadership, the Sul Ross Group is collaborating with many A&M officials and groups to make sure A&M’s traditions and culture are not lost. The Sul Ross Group’s membership includes all former students who attended Texas A&M or graduated more than 55 years ago.

General Joe Ashy and his wife Sue grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in mechanical engineering. After being commissioned, he attended flying school at Reese AFB, Texas followed by F‐100 gunnery school at Luke AFB Arizona. His first assignment was to the 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England. He then was assigned to 3rd Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam where he flew 289 combat missions. Other fighter aircraft he has flown operationally include the A‐7, F‐4, F‐5 and F‐16. He also served in various staff positions during the span of is service in the USAF. He was the operations officer of an F4E squadron (the 36th FS) in Korea, followed by command of the 421st Fighter Squadron (F‐4Ds in Utah).

He later commanded two fighter wings (the 37th Fighter Wing “Wild Weasels” at George AFB, California, and then the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB). Following Commands included: the USAF Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis AFB Nevada, 16th Air Force in Europe along with and a theater component command (NATO’s AIRSOUTH, where he directed air operations in the Mediterranean area and air combat operations over the Balkans), and two Air Force major commands (Air Training Command and Air Force Space Command).

In his last assignment, he was “triple hatted” as Commander, NORAD, Commander, U.S. Space Command, along with Commander, Air Force Space Command. He is a command pilot with over 3500 hours in fighter and attack aircraft. Decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster.

He retired from the USAF in 1996. As president of Ashy and Associates, L.L.C., he consulted for aerospace firms, was a member of boards and USAF advisory groups, and mentored a Department of Defense course for newly promoted US flag officers and senior civilians for 18 years – traveling and visiting over 125 countries around the globe as the senior US delegate.

He and Sue now live on College Station, Texas. He is a member of the Christ UMC, enjoys golf, great grand kids, all things Texas Aggie, the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT), the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), and is currently President of the Texas Aggie Sul Ross Group.

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Joe E. Ramirez, Jr. ’79Brigadier General Joe Ramirez is a native of Houston, Texas and is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Texas Aggie Band in the Corps
of Cadets. He received his commission in the United States Army Field Artillery from Texas A&M in 1979 as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

During his 31 years of military service, General Ramirez commanded soldiers around the world and served in leadership positions in various joint and operational commands. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff for United States Central Command during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and was the Deputy Division Commander for the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. His most recent assignment was Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy for US European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

General Ramirez holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Texas A&M (1979); a Masters Degree in Management from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri (1993); and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (2000).

His numerous military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Parachutists Badge.