1999 Distinguished Alumnus

General Robert T. Herres, USAF (Ret.), nominated by the Ohio Eta Chapter, exemplifies the qualities of outstanding leadership and service that distinguishes him. He has given selflessly to governmental service, from his work as an Air Force Institute of Technology graduate student, to assignments in engineering, and to his appointment as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the second-highest military leadership position in the country. General Herres' military duties included assignments in fighter-interceptors, technical intelligence, flight testing, and systems development, as well as command positions from the communications command to the Eighth Air Force.

After a 36-year distinguished military career, General Herres is the chairman and chief executive officer of USAA, a member-owned diversified insurance and financial services association, originally serving current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. The association was established in 1922 and offers property and casualty insurance and products, as well as life and health insurance, annuities, no-load funds, and discount brokerage banking services. General Herres joined the company as president of the property and casualty insurance division in 1990, and in January 1992 he was named chief operating officer for insurance and information services. He became the president and attorney-in-fact in September 1992 and assumed his current position one year later.

A Colorado native and a 1954 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, General Herres holds a master's degree in electrical engineering and in public administration, along with an honorary doctorate in engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

The citation that accompanied General Herres' nomination for distinguished alumnus outlines his many accomplishments during his career in the military, his leadership in business, and his service to many national and local organizations. He is chair of the national board of directors for Junior Achievement and is a board member of the National Mentoring Partnership, the National Housing Services of America, and the Boy Scouts of America. Locally, he sits on the boards of Trinity University, the Southwest Research Institute, and the development board of the University of Texas Science Center. His dedication and achievement continue to have a significant impact on the technical direction and cultural quality of our country.

General Herres will be honored during the 2000 Convention when President Douglas M. Green will present him with a commemorative plaque and a $500 scholarship to be given in his name to the university of his choice.