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A 2014 graduate of Texas A&M University, U.S. Army Maj. Chris Powell, a Medical Service Corps officer, currently serves in the Federal Republic of Germany as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General at Medical Readiness Command, Europe. His journey began far from Germany, steeped in Aggie traditions and a legacy of service.
Born in December 1991 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., Powell’s connection to the military and Texas A&M University is strong. A 2014 graduate of Texas A&M, Powell followed in the footsteps of his father, retired U.S. Army Col. Robert Anthony Powell, a 1984 graduate of Texas A&M.
“With my father being a graduate of Texas A&M, I was drawn to the traditions upon my first visit to the College Station campus,” Powell said.
The Corps of Cadets proved a strong draw for Powell. “The Corps of Cadets was a perfect combination of a premier, senior military college experience while still being immersed in a vibrant university atmosphere,” Powell explained. “It also offered a sense of connection to my father, who passed away while I was in high school. I ultimately chose between attending the United States Military Academy at West Point and Texas A&M. I couldn’t have gone wrong with either decision. However, my father’s legacy was the key factor that influenced my decision to start a new chapter in Texas.”
Powell also cited his upbringing as an “Army brat” as influencing his decision to join the military. “Growing up as an Army brat, I don’t recall a specific moment when I decided to pursue a military career,” he said. “I was just drawn to a career of service and being a part of something bigger than oneself, and a career in the military fulfilled those professional and personal aspirations.”
Powell’s father, an Army Ordnance officer, transitioned out of mainstream Army to academia and eventually became a permanent professor in the Department of Systems Engineering at West Point.
Powell and his siblings moved frequently. “Growing up as an Army brat, I had a wonderful childhood, thanks to the numerous sacrifices my parents made to give my siblings and me the best possible start in life,” Powell said. “As a child, we lived in the National Capital Region, Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Middletown, R.I., and then at West Point, N.Y., for nearly 10 years.”
At Texas A&M, Powell distinguished himself as a Yell Leader, a revered tradition. “A Yell Leader is a cherished tradition at Texas A&M, but also a position with immense responsibility to give to others and manifest the traditions and values of the university,” said Powell. “It is a competitive process where I had to gain advocacy and nomination from the Corps of Cadets before gaining a plurality of the student body’s vote in annually held student government elections. It was incredibly humbling to gain the support of my peers and the university, and it provided me with a solemn charge to commit to service throughout the tenure that I was afforded.”
Powell’s duties as a Yell Leader were extensive. “As one of five ambassadors for the university, you are incredibly busy,” he said. “You travel to ‘Aggie Mom’s Clubs’ throughout the summer, along with Coaches Nights, ‘Fish Camps,’ and many other events that are unique to the university. I had the privilege of speaking to tens of thousands of current and former students and traveling to all home and away football games along with several other sports.”
The Corps of Cadets laid a firm foundation for Powell’s Army career.
“The Corps of Cadets provided structure, instilled discipline, and was the formative catalyst for my personal and professional development as a young man,” Powell said. “The sense of purpose and duty that it fosters at an early age sets the foundation for seeking a principled life of service to others. Day-to-day life – namely, freshman year – is difficult, yet I learned some of the best life lessons and still maintain some of my closest relationships because of those shared experiences.”
Powell’s Army career has taken him around the world, including to the Republic of Korea, where he met his wife, Laura, also an Army officer. At the time they met, she was serving in the 65th Medical Brigade, and he was a company commander in the 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion.
Powell wryly recalls that their first interaction was her (Laura) scolding him for some Defense Travel System (DTS) infractions made by one of his soldiers. “And as they say, the rest is history…and we were eventually married in December 2021,” Powell added. “After navigating a long-distance relationship for a couple of years, we were finally reunited back together in Germany in the summer of 2022.”
Now at Medical Readiness Command, Europe, Powell sees his current assignment as a “full-circle moment,” having previously served as an aide-de-camp to retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster at Regional Health Command Europe in 2017.
Above all, Powell emphasized his role as a husband and father. “Foremost, I am a husband and a father, and I seek to live a life that is worthy of my children’s imitation.”
