Dr. Barry B. Thompson's last day was Aug. 31
Howard D. Graves named chancellor of The Texas A&M University System
Leaving behind a tenure marked by unprecedented educational, financial and outreach successes, Dr. Barry B. Thompson, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System for the past five years, has passed the torch to his successor, Howard D. Graves. Thompson's last day as chancellor was Aug. 31.
During a special conference call meeting June 28, The A&M System Board of Regents voted unanimously to name Graves chancellor-elect of The A&M System.
As such, he will oversee the system's nine universities, eight agencies and health science center that annually serve more than 88,000 students and reach over 3.5 million others through outreach and continuing education programs.
"I am grateful to be a member of the leadership team that will move The A&M System and its member institutions into the 21st Century," Graves said. "I especially want to thank Dr. Thompson for his leadership over the last five years that has resulted in a thriving and healthy higher education system."
Graves, 59, is a retired three-star Army general originally from the Texas panhandle town of Roaring Springs. His educational pursuits and military career have taken him across the globe, from the venerable halls of Oxford University in England to the dense jungles of Vietnam.
Most recently, Graves and his wife, Gracie, have made their home in Austin where he was the visiting Tom Slick Professor of World Peace at the University of Texas at Austin's Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
After graduating from Amarillo High School, Graves moved to West Point, N.Y. to pursue a bachelor of science degree. He graduated in 1961 with the highest grade point average in five separate academic disciplines, and was ranked second out of 535 students in terms of academic, athletic and leadership performance.
Graves was named a Rhodes Scholar and traveled to Oxford to study politics, philosophy and economics. He was awarded a bachelor of arts degree from the university in 1964, a master of arts degree in 1968 and a master of letters in 1971. From there, Graves moved back to the United States and furthered his education through courses of study at Army professional schools.
Graves' Army career involved such positions as personal assistant to Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger; deputy director for strategy, plans and policy; and vice director of the Joint Military Staff.
Then, in 1989, Graves became assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As personal assistant to Adm. William Crowe, and, later, to Gen. Colin Powell, Graves played a decision making role during a very contentious time in the global arena. He participated in Presidential Cabinet meetings on national security issues, was involved in the Malta and Helsinki Presidential Summits and served alongside Secretary of State James Baker during negotiations regarding such issues as arms control, German reunification, European security arrangements, Arab-Israeli peace initiatives and the diplomatic efforts of Operation Desert Storm.
In 1991, Graves accepted the superintendent position at the U.S. Military Academy. During his tenure as superintendent, he was in charge of 4,000 students and was military commander of a supporting community of approximately 12,000 employees and family members. Graves used his position to stress such values as leadership, character and public service. He updated the curriculum, implemented a vast computer information network and administered an annual budget of $300 million. He retired from the academy in June 1996.
Graves and his wife have two children and five grandchildren.
"I look forward to working with the many communities we serve in Texas, the nation and the world as we provide them education, research and outreach programs second to none," said Graves.
