Cruz Service Academy Nominations Board Annual Meeting Convenes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Service Academy Nominations Board, established by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2013, conducted its annual meeting to review applications and recommend the most qualified Texas candidates for nomination.

Responsible for assessing hundreds of service academy applications, the Board is comprised of service academy alumni, members of the National Guard and Reserves, active duty and retired military and Texas Veterans Commission, and former members of the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Defense. The Board is currently chaired by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell, a native Texan, decorated military veteran, and lifelong conservative Republican representing Texas Senate District 22. 

“I am honored to have the privilege to nominate exceptional young men and women from across the state of Texas to compete for an appointment to the United States service academies,” Sen. Cruz said. “With the importance of this responsibility and respect for the tradition of the selection process in mind, I have assembled a diverse panel of Texans to serve on the Board. This review and selection process allows each member of the committee to find the very best applicants and to ensure an objective, independent process that’s free from outside influence to find the most talented Texans. I want to thank Chairman Birdwell and all of the members who serve on the Board for their hard work and dedication.”

“Texas is blessed to have so many men and women ready and willing to serve their country. One of the many things that makes America great is that we have these men and women of extraordinary caliber who are willing to put on the uniform and preserve our nation’s freedoms. This Board is committed to seeing that each and every one of these applications is thoroughly and objectively reviewed, and this is not a task I take lightly,” Chairman Birdwell said.

After Sen. Cruz nominates 40 applicants, the service academies will make their selections early next year.

Sen. Cruz’s 2015 Service Academy Nominations Board members include:

Sen. Brian Birdwell, Chairman
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army
Granbury, Texas

Ernest Aliseda
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve
McAllen, Texas

Wayne E. Anderson
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Air Force
Carrollton, Texas

Dr. Carol Ann Bonds
San Angelo, Texas

David Bristol
Major (Ret.), U.S. Air Force
Prosper, Texas

Nathan Cook
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Reserve
Magnolia, Texas

Kendall Cox
Major General (Ret.), U.S. Army
Harker Heights, Texas

Steve Dement
Tyler, Texas

The Honorable Diana D. Denman
San Antonio, Texas

Brian Fitzpatrick
Commander, University of Texas NROTC, U.S. Navy
Cedar Park, Texas

Walter Huffman
Major General (Ret.), U.S. Army
Lubbock, Texas

Rex Lemert
Captain, U.S. Army
Amarillo, Texas

Commissioner Dennis L. Lewis
Texas Military Preparedness Commission
Texarkana, Texas

Cody McGregor
Texas Director, Concerned Veterans for America
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Houston, Texas

Dr. David McIntyre
National Security Analyst, U.S. Army
College Station, Texas

Donlie McMullin
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.), U.S. Army
Copperas Cove, Texas

Alyssa Michalke
Commander, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets
College Station, Texas

Oliver Mintz
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Killeen, Texas

Peter Perkins
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
Ingleside, Texas

The Honorable Keith Self
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
McKinney, Texas

Angela Smith
Lieutenant, U.S. Merchant Marines
San Antonio, Texas

Robert “Jerry” Strader, Sr.
Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Abilene, Texas

The Honorable Jaime Tijerina
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Mission, Texas

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