Brig. Gen. Charles G. Rodriguez, Ph.D., assistant vice president for university relations and deputy director of the Center for Public Health Preparedness and Biomedical Research, has been appointed as the adjutant general of Texas, Gov. Rick Perry announced on April 18. As the highest position in the Texas State Guard, the adjutant general is commander of the state and National Guard forces in Texas. Gen. Rodriguez’s term will expire Feb. 1, 2007.
“Gen. Rodriguez is an outstanding Texan who will be a strong leader of our Texas Military Forces,” Gov. Perry said. “His expertise in homeland security issues and his nearly 30 years of military experience have equipped him well to lead the 18,000 men and women of the Army and Air National Guard, the Texas State Guard and the Adjutant General’s Department.”
Gov. Perry’s appointment of Gen. Rodriguez as adjutant general of Texas is subject to Texas Senate confirmation.
“I’m greatly honored and recognize that the challenges facing the National Guard in Texas continue during these very turbulent times,” Gen. Rodriguez said. “As we continue to work hard to prepare soldiers and send them oversees, we work with volunteers and our own cadre to help their families in their absence.”
Gen. Rodriguez graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1975 and received a Master of Arts degree from Wheaton College Graduate School. He later received a Master of Business Administration degree from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Ph.D. in philanthropic leadership from The Union Institute and University.
“The Health Science Center has demonstrated its commitment to community service and homeland security through its co-sponsorship of the Texas Medical Rangers under Dr. Harold Timboe’s expert leadership,” Gen. Rodriguez said. “I thank Judy Wolf, senior vice president for external affairs, for being such a great supervisor and mentor, allowing me to do both my job here and with the National Guard.”
Gen. Rodriguez has more than 29 years of commissioned service and serves as the Texas Assistant Adjutant General for Homeland Defense in the Texas Joint Force Headquarters. He has lived in San Antonio for more than 10 years with his wife Cappy Rodriguez, a 20-year commissioned officer veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and Health Science Center administrative assistant to the Medical School’s associate dean for research, and their two children.
