Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Michael E. Fossum ‘80
Michael Fossum currently serves as a Vice President of Texas A&M University, the Chief Operating Officer of the Galveston Campus, and the Superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. Fossum joined Texas A&M following his retirement from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Johnson Space Center in 2017.

Fossum is a veteran of three space flights with more than 194 days in space and more than 48 hours in seven spacewalks during his 19 years as an astronaut. During his last mission in 2011, Fossum served as the Commander of the International Space Station. He has logged over 2,000 hours in 35 different aircraft throughout the course of his career. Fossum earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in 1980. He is also a graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School and has earned Master of Science degrees in Systems Engineering and Physical Science/Space Science.

Fossum was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and grew up in McAllen, Texas. He is married to his Aggie sweetheart, the former Melanie J. London ‘80. They have four children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys family and outdoor activities. Fossum has been a lifelong supporter and volunteer in the Scouting program.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Marilyn M. Martell

Marilyn M. Martell is vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for Texas A&amp;M University. Martell is responsible for strategic direction and leadership of the Division of Marketing and Communications and provides oversight of 70 marketing and communications professionals. Committed to advancing the mission of Texas A&amp;M through strategic integrated communications and outreach, Martell provides leadership for university public relations, communications, marketing, social media, web, special events and KAMU TV/FM. Creative campaigns under her leadership have received recognition from CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) ad the IABC (International Association of Business Communicators). Prior to becoming vice president and chief marketing and communications officer, Martell served for 20 years as senior assistant vice chancellor for marketing and communications for the Texas A&amp;M Engineering Program, which includes the College of Engineering and Texas A&amp;M University and the Texas A&amp;M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), a state agency in the Texas A&amp;M University System. Prior to that, Martell coordinated communications for the Texas A&amp;M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), including leadership of media relations for Texas Task Force 1 during its response to the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. Prior to joining Texas A&amp;M, Martell spend 12 years as a news reporter, producer and anchor at a variety of outlets including broadcast and cable television, AM/FM radio and newspapers. She is past-President of the Society of Professional Journalists and has received numerous awards for news and feature reporting. In 2016, Martell was named a Regents Fellow by the Texas A&amp;M System Board of Regents for significant commitment and contributions, exceptional leadership and service to the state of Texas and beyond.</p>

Tuesday, March 10, 2022

John A. Adams ‘73

Dr. John Adams is a historian and the author of numerous books about Texas A&M University.  His published books include Over There in The Air, The Fighin’ Texas Aggies In World War I, 1917-1918, The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Keepers of the Spirit: The Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M: 1876-2001, We Are The Aggies, Softly Call The Muster, and Texas Aggies Go To War.

His two newest books are Sul Ross at Texas A&M and Standing Ready, the detailed story of the Dixie Classic in 1922 and the origin of the 12^th Man tradition.

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.