Director of the Don & Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource & Support Center, a department in the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University
John is the Director of the Veteran Resource & Support Center (VRSC) at Texas A&M University. The VRSC provides current Texas A&M University Students who previously served or are currently serving in the United States Military with proprietary and partnered programming in order to facilitate student success from application to vocation. The VRSC staff provides these students (veterans, active-duty personnel, reservists, and national guard members) with tools, expertise, and resources that fill gaps and negotiate obstacles that threaten degree completion and those that cultivate the Aggie Spirit promoting engagement with one another as well as the entire student body. VRSC success is measured by the level of positive impact programming has on student degree completion, an enjoyable and transformative experience at Texas A&M, and first destination achievement upon graduation.
John is a graduate of Texas A&M University, class of 1994, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1995 through the Platoon Leader’s Class program. A Motor Transport and Logistics Officer, John served with the First Marine Division, First and Second Marine Logistics Groups, and the Third Marine Aircraft Wing. He deployed with the 11th and 24th Marine Expeditionary Units and completed multiple combat deployments in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. John is a graduate of Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School and Marine Corps Command and staff College where he earned his master’s degree in military studies. Following two years in command of Marine Wing Support Squadron-371 in Yuma, Arizona John retired from active duty at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. John worked in the construction and financial services industries after retirement before joining the Office of the Commandant’s Staff with the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets in 2016. John served as a Cadet Training Officer for four years and as the Operations Director for another four years before assuming his current duties as the Director of the Don & Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource & Support Center in August of 2024. John and his wife of over 29 years, the former Amanda Miller of McAllen, TX, are the proud parents of a son Garrett and a daughter Gracen.
