Dr. Garner received his Bachelor's in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech,  his Master's in Human Resource Management from Houston Baptist University, and his Doctorate in Human Resource and Organizational Development from the University of Texas at Austin. His research has been in the areas of work team function and development, human resource development systems, and leadership. He was a founding partner of CORE Consulting, an Organizational Development Consulting group. He has served as a consultant in manufacturing and health care industries, small service businesses and with Federal, State, and Local Government. He has served as Faculty at Austin Community College, St. Edwards University and Concordia University, teaching in the areas of Business, Management, and Marketing.  He currently serves as Vice-President and General Program Chair of the Federation of Business Disciplines.  He is a Past-President of the Southwest Academy of Management. He also is a member of SHRM and ASTD.

 

After completing his undergraduate work, he entered the United States Air Force. He served principally as a fighter pilot, flying the F-4 Phantom II, the F-15 Eagle and the AT-38 Talon. He served four overseas tours in Asia and Europe. He flew a combat tour in South East Asia in the F-4 Phantom II, flying 182 combat missions over S.E. Asia. He also served as a manager and staff officer in areas of personnel, operations, training, and aircraft maintenance. He designed and developed the academic training portion of the USAF Fighter Lead-In Training Program in which new fighter pilots receive their initial fighter tactics training. In that program he served as the Chief of Academic Training.  He also served as Chief of Air Defense Readiness in the HQ US Air Forces Europe.

 

Dr. Garner joined the Tarleton State University Faculty in the fall of 1999, with the opening of Tarleton University—Central Texas in Killeen. His teaching duties are now in the area of Human Resource Management.  In the Fall of 2009, the university became Texas A&M University—Central Texas.

 

His interests and enjoyment are travel to exotic places, good restaurants, good wine, good food, the symphony, Round Rock Express baseball, Ga. Tech football and basketball, and grandkids.

 

Dr. Garner and his wife, Frances, live in Austin. Frances is an elementary school teacher for AISD.  They have two grown, married children, Lynn and Philip.  Lynn and her husband, Jeff Purkiss, live in San Antonio and have two grown children; Brian and Kristen.  Jeff is a Captain with Southwest Airlines. Lynn is a professional photographer.  Philip and his wife, Tania, live in Dallas, where he is in safety management with American Airlines. They have two sons, Josiah (10) and Nathanael (8); and daughter Caroline (5). 

 

 

Travel is a major enjoyment for Dr. Garner and his wife.  We visit Hawaii often, mostly to Kauai, where we have a condo, for the wonderful beaches and snorkeling on the north shore and beautiful Hanalei Bay.  We have been to Maui and many times to Oahu . We recently visited Montreal and enjoyed the old city and its many wonderful restaurants. In 2007 we returned to Europe to visit Holland and Germany.  While there we attended a 32TFS reunion and visited close European friends. During recent trips to Southern California, we have visited San Diego, Laguna Beach, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Malibu and Santa Barbara.  Other trips have taken us to Steamboat, CO, Chicago, Charleston, New Orleans, Orlando and St. Louis..  We have seen major league baseball games at Minute Maid Park, the Ballpark at Arlington, Anaheim Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, and Wrigley Field. 

Dr. Garner’s Background & Interests