Full Circle: John B. Sherman First Aggie To Be Dean Of Bush School

John B. Sherman ’92 returns to Texas A&M University to become the new dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service after more than 30 years of perfecting his craft as a statesman.

Sherman, who has served in the administrations of several presidents in a variety of roles, will replace Dr. Frank B. Ashley III, who served a yearlong tenure as interim dean following the appointment of former Dean Mark A. Welsh III as university president. Prior to his latest role, which begins Aug. 1, Sherman was the chief information officer for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Sherman said his vision for the Bush School is built on the foundation established by former President George H.W. Bush that public service is a noble calling.

“I can think of no higher honor or privilege, as I’m wrapping up a 30-year government career, than to come build with a great group of faculty, staff and students,” Sherman said. “We’ll be building upon the successes that Interim Dean Ashley has had and, of course, former dean and now President Welsh. I’m just so impressed with the trajectory of the school.”

Sherman As A Young Aggie

A native Texan from Victoria, Sherman became an Aggie in 1988 when he joined the Corps of Cadets as a political science major. Sherman erroneously signed up for a senior-level history course, eventually leading him to change his major to history.

“This is back in the day when we registered for classes on the telephone,” Sherman said. “It was History 443: U.S. Military History to 1903. I got into class, and the professor, Dr. Joseph Dawson, said, “I’ve never had a freshman pass this class. You need to get out right now.” I ended up not only getting an A, but I got the highest grade in the class! I don’t say that to thump my chest, but that I really enjoyed studying U.S. military leaders. It’s not just knowing the historical dates, but learning about how they led, the problems they had to navigate and negotiate, and what we’ve been through as a country and persevered through.”

As a cadet, Sherman was selected for the Ross Volunteers, the official honor guard of the governor. It was in that role that Sherman first encountered President George H.W. Bush.

“I never conversed with him, but when he launched his campaign for his second term in 1991 in Houston, I was one of the four Ross Volunteers asked to attend,” Sherman said. “I held his U.S. flag only a few feet away from him!”

As a senior, Sherman served as commander of the Corps of Cadets, a role that would shape his values as a leader.

“The Corps of Cadets is the greatest leadership laboratory in the country, if not the world, in terms of having young students being able to do really amazing things,” Sherman said. “Leading, planning, working through tough problems and learning interpersonal skills there served me well later in life, especially for a career in intelligence and defense. I’ll never forget that the Aggie experience is who we are. Those Core Values and the Aggie Code of Honor are what have served me so well.”

A Statesman Across Administrations

After graduating from Texas A&M in 1992, Sherman would go on to serve as an Air Defense Artillery officer while attaining a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Houston. Thereafter, Sherman transitioned into the Department of Defense (DoD) through the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) imagery analyst. His continued advancement in the field of national security would lead to his second encounter with former President George H.W. Bush.

“When I was a White House Situation Room duty officer circa early-to-mid 2001 under President Bush 43, I walked out of the Situation Room to go to where the coffee was,” Sherman recalled. “And there was President Bush 41, but he was speaking to someone. I wanted to shake his hand, but I also didn’t want to interrupt his conversation!”

Sherman went on to work in various positions throughout the national security and intelligence field between 2001 and 2007. He provided imagery analysis to U.S. military operations in Iraq and East Asia, among other duties. He then served as a principal deputy national intelligence officer for the National Intelligence Council, producing intelligence support.

Sherman’s career coincides with the rise of the Bush School as a leader in developing public servants.

“Ground was broken for the Bush School by the time I’d graduated, and I was so proud when Texas A&M was chosen to host the library and school that would bear the Bush name,” he said. “Over the years, I’d seen Bush School graduates in places like the CIA, DoD and elsewhere and been blown away with the quality of the folks that had come through there.”

Throughout his career, Sherman’s accolades would include the Distinguished and Meritorious Presidential Rank, the Defense Intelligence Agency Director’s Award, the CIA Intelligence Medal of Merit, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service and the NGA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.

“Working under different presidents with different parties, I always try to adhere to the ethos of Texas A&M’s honor code while serving the needs of our nation and fellow citizens,” Sherman said. “That’s what I’ve tried to do. Whether it’s going all the way back to being in the Situation Room and onward to a presidentially appointed official, I worked as a bipartisan leader not getting sucked into the worst part of the politics and just doing the right thing for the country.”

The Future Of The Bush School

Sherman’s last encounter with former President Bush, he said, was “one of the most honored things I’ve ever had a chance to do.”

“I was on the CIA team at Andrews Air Force Base as part of the reception group as his remains were brought to Washington, D.C., along with the Bush family. To be one of the CIA officers there for that event was humbling, and I feel that that was my way to pay the utmost respect to his spirit and everything he stood for.”

Sherman said Bush’s legacy and dedication to public service will serve as a guide for him and continue to define the Bush School.

“President Bush was a humble public servant,” Sherman said. “All the way back to his time as an aviator in World War II up to being commander in chief, that quality of making it about the nation, I think those core qualities that we channel at the Bush School is what makes us special. It’s the spirit of humble service that President Bush so skillfully built the school on that will be one of the most important things to perpetuate as dean.”

Sherman said the idea of building on Bush’s vision — that the school can be a launchpad for students who have answered the call to serve — drew him to the new role.

“To be able to expose students to that mix of world-class faculty and practitioners, many of whom are experts in their field, who give opportunities and open doors for students into various types of government and service, I really think that’s the secret sauce of the Bush School,” he said.

Though Sherman has immense respect and appreciation for the Bush School’s reputation, he also looks forward to contributing his expertise in developing the legacy of the former president.

“George H.W. Bush was never one to rest on his laurels,” Sherman said. “He was always innovating. We must keep that spirit up. We’re going to stand on the shoulders of giants, but we’re also going to keep evolving at the school.”