AUSTIN, Texas — Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows today appointed Colonel Patrick Albritton, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), and General James E. “Jim” Rainey, U.S. Army (Ret.), to the Texas Advisory Committee on Geopolitical Conflict, for terms set to expire January 19, 2028. Created by Senate Bill 2312 in the 89th Legislative Session, the committee is tasked with developing state security strategies and policies before a geopolitical conflict occurs, as well as collecting and preparing information to assist in enhancing Texas’ command-and-control functions in the event of a conflict.

“Texas stands at the forefront of national security innovation, and as hostile nations like China seek to disrupt the global order and sow instability, we must act with urgency to ensure our state is prepared for an evolving geopolitical landscape,” said Speaker Burrows. “This session, the Texas Legislature took decisive action by establishing this committee to strengthen our readiness for potential global conflict that could threaten our security, supply chains, and critical infrastructure. I am grateful to Colonel Albritton and General Rainey for their service and leadership in advancing this mission, and to Chairman Cole Hefner for working with our colleagues in the House and Senate on legislation that position Texas for a more secure future.”

Colonel Patrick Albritton is a retired Air Force Colonel with 25 years of experience in facility, city operations, and higher education administration. He currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations at Reese National Security Complex at Texas Tech University, where he provides leadership and administrative direction for the facilities, runways and airfield, roadways, and infrastructure. Colonel Albritton served in the U.S. Air Force between 1996 and 2021. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science in Military Studies from the U.S. Marine Corps University.

General James E. “Jim” Rainey is a retired four-star general with a 38-year career leading teams that solve complex military challenges across the U.S. Army. As Commanding General of U.S. Army Futures Command from 2022 to 2025, he directed the Army’s most significant modernization effort since the Cold War, overseeing a portfolio of more than $30 billion and 30,000 personnel worldwide. Prior to that assignment, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army for Plans, Operations and Training; as well as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth; Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division; and Commandant of the Infantry School and Maneuver Center of Excellence. Throughout his career, General Rainey has commanded units at every level and deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He earned master’s degrees in Advanced Military Arts and Sciences from the School of Advanced Military Studies and Public Administration from Troy University.