Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. Officially Appointed Angelo State University President
August 17, 2020 | Contact: Becky Brackin
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. was officially appointed to
his new post as president of Angelo State University at a special ceremony this morning
(Aug. 17) in the ASU Houston Harte University Center.
The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents unanimously selected Hawkins as
the sole finalist for ASU president on July 24, and state law requires at least 21
days must pass before final action could be taken. A recording of today’s appointment
ceremony is available at angelo.edu/presidenthawkins.
The 11th president of Angelo State, Hawkins is the second ASU alum to serve as president,
and the first Black president in the 92-year history of the institution.
Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr.“I’m excited about the opportunity to work with an incredible faculty, an incredible
staff, and to be around the students,” Hawkins said. “Students come in as a customer
of Angelo State, but they go out a product of Angelo State. We want to make them the
best product to the world that they can be, such that people will say, ‘I want some
of what they’re doing down there or over there or up there in San Angelo, Texas.’”
“I always wanted to make Angelo State proud,” he added, “and the way I worked, I was
committed to that. Now, I want to make Angelo State proud, and I’m committed to doing
it that way.”
A 1977 distinguished graduate, Hawkins attended ASU on a track and field scholarship
and a Carr Academic Scholarship. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in
computer science and was a member of the Rams track and field teams that won Lone
Star Conference Championships in 1974-75 and 1977. He went on to become the highest-ranking
graduate of Angelo State’s ROTC Detachment 847, and was named a Distinguished ROTC
Alumnus in 2001.
Hawkins takes over the leadership of his alma mater on the same day thousands of students
returned to the ASU campus for the start of the 2020 fall semester.
“Today is a proud day for Angelo State University and the entire Texas Tech University
System community,” said Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., chancellor of the TTU System. “One of our own – an Angelo State alumnus, Lt. Gen.
Ronnie Hawkins Jr. – returns to serve as our next president of ASU. Ronnie is an exceptional
leader, a person of integrity and commitment, and someone who has for decades honorably
served his country and community. We couldn’t be more pleased about his appointment.”
Hawkins’ appointment as ASU president is the culmination of a nationwide search that
began in May and attracted more than 100 applicants.
“On behalf of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, I want to send my
heartfelt and enthusiastic congratulations to the entire Ram Family and Ronnie Hawkins
on his appointment to the presidency of Angelo State University,” said Christopher M. Huckabee, board chairman. “Ronnie Hawkins is an outstanding leader who takes the helm of a
remarkable institution at ASU. We know he’ll lead with the vision and distinction
that has marked his entire career, and we are honored to have him as president.”
During an outstanding Air Force career that spanned nearly four decades, Hawkins completed
assignments with the Strategic Air Command, U.S. Air Force Academy, Air Combat Command,
Headquarters Pacific Air Force, Headquarters Air Force and Joint Chiefs of Staff.
His final assignment was as director of the Defense Information Systems Agency in
Fort Meade, Md., where he led a $10.2 billion global organization of 14,000 military
and civilian personnel.
Hawkins’ many honors and awards include:
• Bronze Star
• Legion of Merit
• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award
• “The Federal 100” by Federal Computer Weekly
• North American Technology Leadership Award from the Armed Forces Communications
and Electronics Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter
Throughout his military career, Hawkins also remained an academic. He earned master’s
degrees from Abilene Christian University, Liberty University and the National Defense
University, and completed a program for senior managers in government at Harvard University.
Following his Air Force retirement, Hawkins returned to San Angelo and became heavily
involved in the community. He also taught leadership development courses as an adjunct
visiting professor at ASU, and served as president and CEO of the Hawkins Group, a
digital, information technology and cybersecurity firm. He and his wife, San Angelo
native Maria Hawkins – who also attended ASU – were named the San Angelo Chamber of
Commerce’s 2019 co-Citizens of the Year.
The Hawkins have been married for 46 years and have two sons, Col. Ronnie Hawkins
III and Lt. Col. Joshua Hawkins, and a daughter, Christine Honesty.
 Regent Mickey L. Long |
 President Hawkins Appointment |
 Chancellor Mitchell and President Hawkins |
 President Hawkins |
 President Hawkins |
 President Hawkins Appointment |
 President Hawkins and Chancellor Mitchell |
 President Hawkins and wife, Maria |
 President Hawkins and Maria |
About the Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the Texas Tech University System is a $2 billion higher education enterprise focused on advancing higher education,
health care, research and community outreach. Consisting of four universities – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso – the TTU System collectively has approximately 55,000 students, 17 campuses statewide
and internationally, more than 300,000 alumni and an endowment valued at over $1.3
billion.
During the 86th Texas Legislature under the leadership of Chancellor Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell, legislative funding and authority was provided to establish a new Texas Tech University veterinary school in Amarillo and a new dental school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. This will be the state’s first veterinary school in more than a century and first dental school in over 50 years. The addition of these two schools makes the Texas Tech University System one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.