Governor Abbott Appoints Four To Texas Military Preparedness Commission
Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Carol Ann Bonds, Ph.D., Garry Bradford, and Darrell Coleman, and appointed Patrick Akuna to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission for terms set to expire on February 1, 2025. The Commission's goal is to preserve, protect, expand and attract new military missions, assets, and installations. Additionally, the Commission encourages defense related businesses to expand or relocate in Texas.
Carol Ann Bonds, Ph.D of San Angelo retired as superintendent of San Angelo Independent School District in August 2015 after eight years of service. Previously, she served as superintendent of Livingston ISD and Rogers ISD. She has thirty-five years of combined service in education, and was named Texas Region XV Superintendent of the Year in 2010. She currently serves on the Air Force Chief of Staff’s Civic Leader Program and the Air Education Training and Command Program. She also serves as chair of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce’s Goodfellow Air Force Base Military Affairs committee. Additionally, she is vice president of the West Texas Rehab Center Board. Bonds received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Elementary Education from Houston Baptist University, a Master of Arts in Reading from The University of Mary Hardin Baylor, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public School Leadership from The University of Texas at Austin.
Garry Bradford of Corpus Christi is the owner, president, and CEO of Unique Employment Service and Bradford Holding Company, consisting of multiple Professional Employer Organizations. He is the past chairman of the Board for the Certification Institute, a national non-profit Workers Compensation Risk Management Association. He is the past president for the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations and the past National and Texas Leadership chairman. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for Employers Service Assurance Corporation, Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Board of Directors, and the Wells Fargo Bank Business Advisory Board for the Southwestern Region. He serves on the Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Tarpon Foundation Board of Directors, Del Mar College Business Advisory Board, Bay Area Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, and the South Texas Military Facilities Task Force. Bradford received a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences and Business from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science in Military Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He retired in 2006 as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and earned an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army for prior service.
Darrell Coleman of Wichita Falls is a public relations consultant for the Patterson Auto Group. He retired after a thirty-five year career in the newspaper industry with the E.W. Scripps Company. Previously, he has served as the president and publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and the Wichita Falls Times Record News. He is treasurer of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and treasurer and former chair of the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation. Additionally, he is a board member of the Sheppard AFB Military Affairs committee, North Texas Rehab Center Foundation, Wichita Falls Boys & Girls Club, and Rathgeber Hospitality House. He also served on the Texas Military Value Task Force in 2014 and the South Texas Military Affairs Committee. Coleman received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Midwestern State University.
Patrick Akuna of Killeen is a retired Army Command Sergeant Major. Prior to retiring in 2017, Command Sergeant Major Akuna served in every leadership position in the Infantry starting from Fire Team Leader to Division Command Sergeants Major, First Army Division West, Fort Hood and the Task Force Phantom Command Sergeants Major, III Armored corps, Fort Hood. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. Additionally, he is a member of the Fort Hood Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. Akuna has completed all levels of the Non-Commissioned Officers Education System, the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class, and received an Associate of Science in General Education-Criminal Justice from Troy State University.