The Commandant while I was there was Col. Parsons for whom Parson's Mounted Calvary is named. He was an outstanding Commandant. It's not the rank that makes a good leader. I don't believe we should limit out search to General Officers.

oldag941 said:

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Didn't he resign from the army as a Captain? I'm all about re-looking the general officer precedent, but some military seniority is probably valuable and necessary.

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I believe that Tyson was basically being fast tracked for flag officer when family priorities drove him to resign. I think his senior executive experience with the Foundation more than makes up for his lack of military seniority.

His combat leadership was extremely well regarded and would better relate to the cadet experience and building leaders within the Corps of Cadets than a Flag officer's skills navigating the military's political environment.

Perhaps his lack of rank would hurt his ability to work with the ROTC commanders who might out rank him, but I'm sure he would earn their respect in short order.

Now that Ramirez is gone at Student Affairs, if Ruth gets into Commandant, a lot of this nonsense the Corps has gone through the last few years will hopefully be handled in-house like it always should have been.

Wow, I knew Ramirez was going to retire, I didn't know the announcement had already been made.

Looks like it happened today.
https://wtaw.com/texas-am-vice-president-of-student-affairs-and-former-corps-of-cadets-commandant-joe-ramirez-announces-his-retirement/

I'll take a Colonel over some pc ass kissing General any day

HollywoodBQ said:

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Wow, I knew Ramirez was going to retire, I didn't know the announcement had already been made.

Looks like it happened today.
https://wtaw.com/texas-am-vice-president-of-student-affairs-and-former-corps-of-cadets-commandant-joe-ramirez-announces-his-retirement/

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Yes, no one saw it coming and predicted it weeks ago...

Completely out of left field, this announcement was...

How long has it been since there was a commandant who isn't a general officer?

1986, COL Burton.

https://corps.tamu.edu/commandants-commanders-of-the-corps/

A number of years ago the administration at A&M decided that they preferred to have a flag officer as Commandant because the other SMCs have them, and our folks didn't want our Commandant to be at a disadvantage when dealing with them.

Stephen Ruth is an awesome guy and would be a fantastic choice.

Only "Knew of" him back in the CorpsHe had an excellent reputation
As long as he isn't woke I'm a yes vote. The fact that he's not a general is good news

musicman55 said:

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A number of years ago the administration at A&M decided that they preferred to have a flag officer as Commandant because the other SMCs have them, and our folks didn't want our Commandant to be at a disadvantage when dealing with them.

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I'm most familiar with VMI.

They have an O-6 who runs their Corps of Cadets but they have a General Officer who runs the University.

v1rotate92 said:

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Only "Knew of" him back in the CorpsHe had an excellent reputation
As long as he isn't woke I'm a yes vote. The fact that he's not a general is good news

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I've spoken with him several times in the past two years. He's not woke.

I'll probably get ratio'd for this on this thread but Stephen Ruth has the same kind of savvy and deeper understanding that BG Ramirez has.

Having been Student Body President, worked at West Point, etc., he knows how to play the political side of the game which obviously, our most recent Commandant did not.

musicman55 said:

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A number of years ago the administration at A&M decided that they preferred to have a flag officer as Commandant because the other SMCs have them, and our folks didn't want our Commandant to be at a disadvantage when dealing with them.

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I wouldn't think a good strong Colonel is really at any disadvantage dealing with a flag officer. Colonel is the lynchpin positon - one foot in the flag officer political arena, one foot still in the trenches with the men and getting dirty.

If this guy is as good as everybody on this board says he is, then odds are he would go toe to toe with any other commandant, even if they held a higher rank than he did during their service time. Since none of them are in active service, they all essentially hold the same rank as a commandant anyway, no?

+1 for not being a BQ
-1 for being New Army

'92 is still New Army?

can we bring Col Brewer out of retirement?

Anything after'83 is.