Brigadier General Joe Ramirez, Jr. is a native of Houston and a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Texas Aggie Band in the Corps of Cadets. General Ramirez holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Texas A&M (1979); a Master’s Degree in Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri (1993); and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (2000).

During his 31 years of military service, General Ramirez commanded soldiers around the world and served in leadership positions in various joint and operational commands. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff for United States Central Command during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and was the Deputy Division Commander for the 2^nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. His most recent assignment was Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy for US European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

Prior to being named Vice President for Student Affairs, General Ramirez served as the 45^th Commandant of Cadets at Texas A&M from 2010-2021. As the Commandant, General Ramirez oversaw the largest collegiate Corps of Cadets outside of the three military academies. Under his leadership, the Corps of Cadets experienced the largest growth it has seen since the early 1970s, increasing in size from 1800 cadets to over 2550 cadets in just 7 years. In addition, the overall cumulative Corps GPA increased from an overall 2.6 to a 3.2. Under his tenure, the Corps also increased in diversity, including the first African American Corps Commander, the first female Corps Commander, and the first Hispanic Yell Leader. In addition, he helped oversee the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces from Texas A&M since the Vietnam War in the early 1970s.

General Ramirez is also an active member in the local community, serving on numerous boards, including the Boys & Girls Club of Brazos Valley, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas, Heart of Texas American Red Cross, Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History and the College Station Chamber of Commerce.