Alumni Profiles

Alumni Association - Celebrating our Alumni

April 29, 2024

Anthony Martinez

• What is your current role or if retired, what was your previous role?
"Anthony is a retired commissioned officer of the US Army, with three combat tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and one combat tour to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The US Army decided to retire him medically on October 21, 2015, due to injuries he sustained during his last deployment to Afghanistan. He completed over 15 years of active military service upon his medical retirement in 2015. Before joining the Army, he was a high school student who worked as an hourly manager at Burger King restaurant. After graduating from high school in 1997, he enlisted as a Private (E-1) in the Army and eventually worked his way up the ranks to Captain. He held numerous types of jobs as a soldier in the Army. His last two positions in the Army were as a Commanding Officer of 220 soldiers in a combat theater and a Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) Spin Boldak in Afghanistan, consisting of over 3,000 military and civilian tenants. He considers it an honor and a privilege to have served our nation with some of America’s bravest sons and daughters. Anthony is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the American Veterans Mission (AVM, Inc.), a local nonprofit corporation in Killeen, Texas. Tony also serves as the inaugural Alumni Board of Directors member for The Mission Continues (TMC)—a national nonprofit organization that empowers communities with veteran talent, skills, and preparedness to generate visible impact. Moreover, he is a member of the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC)’s Board of Directors, which aims to maintain a comprehensive economic development program for Copperas Cove, Texas."

• What is something about you others would be interested to know?
"Anthony advocates community service and loves to volunteer in his local communities. He is a recipient of the coveted President’s Volunteer Service Award (Silver) and is working on earning a Gold level of the same award. In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to recognize the vital role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation."

• What does A&M-Central Texas mean to you?
"Texas A&M University-Central Texas is more than just a university to me. It is home to some of our bright local young minds who believe that thinking globally and acting locally is an efficient way to affect our world positively. It is home to excellent mentors such as former President Nigliazzo and Dr. Russ Porter. It is the home of the Warriors, an educational institution with caring professors who teach and hone our students’ skills to craft, recommend, and implement strategies for developing companies or organizations."