FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Lee H. Evans has been selected assistant commandant of Tarleton State University’s Corps of Cadets, effective Aug. 6.
A Mineral Wells native, Evans retired in 2016 after more than 22 years of military service. He served in U.S. Army Special Operations while on active duty, leading soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines across five continents and more than 35 countries.
“The Corps of Cadets is a key initiative for our university, a reflection of the great military history we enjoy as part of The Texas A&M University System,” said President F. Dominic Dottavio. “I am confident that Lt. Col. Evans will uphold and preserve that proud and longstanding tradition. He has served our nation with distinction, leading military efforts in the U.S. and abroad to protect and defend our country.”
Evans’ parents are Tarleton alumni.
“I grew up playing on the World War I-era cannon on the Stephenville campus,” he said. “I am blessed to serve as assistant commandant of the Texan Corps of Cadets. It will be my honor-bound duty to guide the corps with every bit of my being and bleed purple with every effort.”
Early in his military carry, Evans was platoon leader of the Army’s prestigious 3rd United States Infantry Regiment — The Old Guard — at Fort Myer, Va., conducting special ceremonies in the nation’s capital. As commander of the Joint Information Support Task Force in Qatar, he led a troop of 300 that provided trans-regional support throughout the U.S. Central Command, monitoring the effectiveness of military information support at six embassies in the Middle East.
He also served as commander of the only active-duty military information support battalion to the U.S. Africa Command, integrating operations in U.S. embassies in Djibouti, Nigeria, Mauritania, Mali and Kenya. While at Fort Bragg, N.C., he led no-notice combat operations — unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance and foreign internal defense — in support of the U.S. Southern Command.
“Lt. Col. Evans’ real-world experience, along with that of our entire Tarleton cadre, provide an outstanding foundation for the Texan Corps of Cadets, ensuring they excel and develop into the next generation of military and civilian leaders,” said Dr. Alex del Carmen, executive director of the university’s School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies.
Evans is a 1994 graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a master’s degree in international relations and conflict resolution from American Public University. His military honors include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with three stars, Bronze Star Medal-4th Award, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation.
He is a graduate of the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, Army Ranger Course, Infantry Officer Basic Leadership Course, Air Assault School and Airborne School, among others.
Tarleton’s historic Corps of Cadets dates to 1917 and was reinstated in 2016 under the leadership of retired U.S. Air Force Col. Kenny Weldon. Part of the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies,the corps is maintained within the university’s student body.
Participants can obtain a minor in leadership studies with no military obligation. Cadets interested in serving in the military can commission in the Army, Air Force or Marine Corps through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
For more information on the Texan Corps of Cadets, go to www.tarleton.edu/cadets.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience, marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. Offering degree programs in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online to more than 13,000 students, Tarleton engages with communities through real-world learning experiences to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of integrity, leadership, tradition, civility, excellence and service.
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