Campus Life

Bush School Honors Outstanding Alumni For Exemplary Public Service

Diana Pérez Gomez and Capt. Jeff W. Benson were recognized for leadership, integrity and dedication during the ninth annual award ceremony.
By Reyes Ramirez, Bush School of Government and Public Service September 23, 2024

A photo of two award winners standing with their awards.
Diana Pérez Gomez and Capt. Jeff W. Benson were recognized earlier this month as Outstanding Alumni Award recipients from the Bush School of Government and Public Service.

Bush School of Government and Public Service

 

Former President George H.W. Bush once said, “There can be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.” Since 2016, The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University has recognized former students that have taken this adage to new levels through the Outstanding Alumni Award.

Capt. Jeff W. Benson ’03 and Diana Pérez Gomez ’00 are the latest recipients who have demonstrated high calibers of professional experience, public service and support of The Bush School based on excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. They received their awards at the ninth annual luncheon in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center on Sept. 12, 2024.

“Former students of The Bush School achieve amazing things in their careers, communities and the world,” said John Sherman, dean of The Bush School. “It’s important to recognize those who are exceptional in their public service work. They provide a clear example of the impact to mankind that can be achieved when answering the noble calling to public service and striving for excellence.”

Pérez Gomez graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2000. Since then, Pérez Gomez became an accomplished trial attorney and employment shareholder in the Houston office of Chamberlain Hrdlicka, where she was elected by her fellow shareholders to serve on the firm’s board of directors. She also serves as national chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice and pro bono committee.

A photo of a man and woman during an award presentation.
John Sherman, dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, presents the Outstanding Alumni Award to Diana Pérez Gomez.

Bush School of Government and Public Service

Pérez Gomez was nominated for the award by a group of her peers.

Joy Monroe, assistant dean for development, alumni relations and strategic initiatives shared remarks on behalf of Pérez Gomez’s colleagues and Larry Campagna, managing shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka.

“Service is in Diana’s DNA,” Monroe said. “She has driven change from within the legal profession and created opportunities for underserved populations, increased access to justice, promoted mental health and well-being of lawyers and mentored attorneys and paralegals both at our firm and in the organizations she has helped to lead.”

The Houston Bar Association, Houston’s largest and oldest bar association with over 10,000 members, elected Pérez Gomez as president in 2022. Under her leadership, the Houston Bar Association launched its first multi-practice Bench Bar Conference, increased its membership to over 11,000 members, installed lactation/wellness facilities in the Harris County Court Complex and created “legal pods” where members of the public can talk directly to legal librarians, research legal issues and receive legal assistance.

“One of my most favorite things about Texas A&M are our values,” Pérez Gomez said in her award acceptance speech. “The selfless service value that’s instilled in all of us is what had a profound impact on me. We work with and help others to have a positive impact and to do so without expectations of recognition or reward. A lot of my service has to do with what I was taught here at Texas A&M. I attribute so much of that to the Bush family, to my time here at Texas A&M, to my wonderful mother and father and to my wonderful husband of 16 years. Selfless service is something that I learned here more than 20 years ago at Texas A&M, and it’s something I will continue. We take care of each other as Aggies, but we take care of others, too.”

Benson received a master’s degree in public service and administration and a certificate in advanced international affairs from The Bush School in 2003. He has since advanced in his career in the United States Navy, spanning more than 20 years. Benson will be the first commanding officer of USS Louis H. Wilson Jr., a new Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in Bath, Maine. Benson has deployed to the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions serving aboard five warships, including commanding the USS Stethem forward deployed in Japan.

Fred McClure, chief community engagement officer for Texas A&M and dedicated public servant who served under three U.S. presidents, shared remarks on behalf of Jean Becker, former chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush, as she nominated Benson but was unable to attend the ceremony.

“Capt. Jeff Benson is exactly the kind of leader and public servant President Bush envisioned when he founded The Bush School of Government and Public Service,” McClure said. “His devotion to service and country is an inspiration to us all.”

A photo of two men during an awards presentation.
John Sherman, dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, presents the Outstanding Alumni Award to U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff W. Benson.

Bush School of Government and Public Service

Benson has served in several staff positions advising the nation’s most senior military and civilian leaders in government. Capt. Benson’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (Second Award), Navy Commendation Medal (Third Award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the U.S. Navy League’s Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence and many more.

“There are three men that had a tremendous impact on my life when I was here at The Bush School,” Benson said in his award acceptance speech. “First is Dean Richard Chilcoat, who was here from the very beginning. He became another mentor of mine and taught me what it means to be a military officer. The second is Adm. David Jeremiah, who not only became a friend but also a mentor to me. The third might be obvious, but it is George H.W. Bush. We wouldn’t be here today without him. I remember him fishing in the pond, playing horseshoes and teaching us in class. I will always be grateful for that. My hope for the future is to continue carrying on that legacy of character not only in the Navy but for the rest of my life to leave the world a stronger, more moral and ethical background in character.”

The Outstanding Alumni Award was instituted in 2016. Following the welcoming of the political science department to the Bush School as well as the expansion into undergraduate programs, a second award was established to honor both a deserving graduate and undergraduate alumni.

“Nominees are evaluated on their professional experience, public service and support for The Bush School or Texas A&M with their time and talent,” Sherman said. “Outstanding alumni make a continued effort and commitment to serve others in various pursuits like a charitable or nonprofit organization, military service and other time invested in their community. They have accomplished distinctions through their career experiences in local, state, national or international levels that make a high impact. The nominator is encouraged to highlight how the nominee reflects, and this is the most important part to me, the Core Values of Texas A&M and what George H.W. Bush modeled and stood for. This is a very competitive pool when you think about all the folks who have come through The Bush School.”

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