Former students Diana Pérez Gomez and Captain Jeff W. Benson return to The Bush School 20 years after graduating to accept prestigious award.
Former President George H.W. Bush once said, “There can be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.” Since 2016, The Bush School of Government & Public Service has recognized former students that have taken this adage to new levels through the Outstanding Alumni Award for which they must be nominated by others to be in contention. Capt. Jeff W. Benson ’03 and Diana Pérez Gomez ’00 are the latest recipients who have demonstrated high calibers of professional experience, public service and support of The Bush School based on excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. They received their awards at the 9th annual luncheon in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center on Sept. 12, 2024.
“Former students of The Bush School achieve amazing things in their careers, communities and the world,” John Sherman, dean of The Bush School, said. “It’s important to recognize those who are exceptional in their public service work. They provide a clear example of the impact to mankind that can be achieved when answering the noble calling to public service and striving for excellence.”
Pérez Gomez graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2000. Since then, Pérez Gomez became a lawyer and is an accomplished trial attorney and employment shareholder in the Houston office of Chamberlain Hrdlicka where she was elected by her fellow shareholders to serve on the firm’s Board of Directors. She also serves as National Chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice and Pro Bono Committee.
Pérez Gomez was nominated by a collective group of her peers. Joy Monroe, Assistant Dean for Development, Alumni Relations and Strategic Initiatives shared prepared remarks on behalf of Pérez Gomez’s colleagues and Larry Campagna, managing shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka.
“Service is in Diana’s DNA,” shared Monroe. “She has driven change from within the legal profession and created opportunities for underserved populations, increased access to justice, promoted mental health and well-being of lawyers and mentored attorneys and paralegals both at our firm and in the organizations she has helped to lead.”
The Houston Bar Association, Houston’s largest and oldest bar association with over 10,000 members, elected Pérez Gomez as president in 2022 where she served as the first Latina and sixth woman president since the organization was established in 1870. Under her leadership, the Houston Bar Association launched its first-ever multi-practice Bench Bar Conference, increased its membership to over 11,000 members, installed lactation/wellness facilities in the Harris County Court Complex and created “legal pods” where members of the public can talk directly to legal librarians, research legal issues and receive legal assistance.
“One of my most favorite things about Texas A&M are our values,” Pérez Gomez said in her award acceptance speech. “The selfless service value that’s instilled in all of us is what had a profound impact on me. We work with and help others to have a positive impact and to do so without expectations of recognition or reward. A lot of my service has to do with what I was taught here at Texas A&M. I attribute so much of that to the Bush family, to my time here at Texas A&M, to my wonderful mother and father and to my wonderful husband of 16 years. Selfless service is something that I learned here more than 20 years ago at Texas A&M, and it’s something I will continue. We take care of each other as Aggies, but we take care of others, too.”
Benson received a master’s degree in public service and administration and a certificate in advanced international affairs from The Bush School in 2003. He has since advanced in his career in the United States Navy spanning more than 20 years. Benson will be the first Commanding Officer of USS Louis H. Wilson, Jr. (DDG 126), a new Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in Bath, Maine. Capt. Benson has deployed to the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions serving aboard five warships, including commanding the USS Stethem (DDG63) forward deployed in Japan.
Fred McClure, Chief Community Engagement Officer for Texas A&M and dedicated public servant who served under three U.S. presidents, shared remarks on behalf of Jean Becker, former Chief of Staff for President George H.W. Bush, as she nominated Benson but was unable to attend the ceremony.
“Capt. Jeff Benson is exactly the kind of leader and public servant President Bush envisioned when he founded The Bush School of Government and Public Service,” McClure said. “His devotion to service and country is an inspiration to us all.”
In addition, Benson has served in several staff positions advising the nation’s most senior military and civilian leaders in government. Capt. Benson’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (Second Award), Navy Commendation Medal (Third Award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the U.S. Navy League’s Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence and many more.
“There are three men that had a tremendous impact on my life when I was here at The Bush School,” Benson said in his award acceptance speech. “First is Dean Richard Chilcoat who was here from the very beginning. He became another mentor of mine and taught me what it means to be a military officer. The second is Admiral David Jeremiah who not only became a friend but also a mentor to me. The third might be obvious, but it is George H.W. Bush. We wouldn’t be here today without him. I remember him fishing in the pond, playing horseshoes and teaching us in class. I will always be grateful for that. My hope for the future is to continue carrying on that legacy of character not only in the Navy but for the rest of my life to leave the world a stronger, more moral and ethical background in character.”
The Outstanding Alumni Award was instituted in 2016. Following the welcoming of the political science department to the Bush School as well as the expansion into undergraduate programs, a second award was established to honor both a deserving graduate and undergraduate alumni.
“Nominees are evaluated on their professional experience, public service and support for The Bush School or Texas A&M with their time and talent,” Dean Sherman said. “Outstanding alumni make a continued effort and commitment to serve others in various pursuits like a charitable or nonprofit organization, military service and other time invested in their community. They have accomplished distinctions through their career experiences in local, state, national or international levels that make a high impact. The nominator is encouraged to highlight how the nominee reflects, and this is the most important part to me, the Core Values of Texas A&M and what George H.W. Bush modeled and stood for. This is a very competitive pool when you think about all the folks who have come through The Bush School.”
