Speaker

Reilly earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Texas A&M University and was commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1994. During his time at Texas A&M, Reilly was a member of Squadrons 6 and 13, a member of the Fish Drill Team, and served as the Recon Company Commanding Officer. Reilly is married to Amy Reilly ’96, and they have three children: U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Joshua Reilly ’25, Connor ’28, and Anna.

Reilly is an associate professor of the practice in the Public Service and Administration (PSAA) Department of the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He serves as the PSAA undergraduate program director and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in homeland security, homeland defense, emergency management, defense intelligence, and leadership.

Prior to his current position, Reilly served 29 years in the United States Marine Corps in numerous leadership positions across all three Marine Expeditionary Forces and the national intelligence community. He additionally earned master’s degrees in ancient and classical history from American Military University and joint campaign planning and strategy from the National Defense University.

Reilly completed his military career serving as the commanding officer and professor of naval science for the NROTC Unit at Texas A&M University, where he had the privilege of developing and commissioning the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps officers. In addition to his current position at the Bush School, Reilly serves on the board of directors for Brazos Valley Cares and supports several student organizations, including the MSC Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA) and the Alexander Hamilton Society.

Lt. Gen. Michael L. Downs, a distinguished graduate of the Texas A&M Class of 1992, served as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Campus Muster ceremony. A proud member of Squadron 15 and the Ross Volunteers during his time at A&M, Downs was commissioned as an ROTC Distinguished Graduate in 1992.

He currently serves as the Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., a role he has held since 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Vice Director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and held significant leadership positions, including Director of Intelligence for United States Forces Korea and Director of Future Warfare for the U.S. Air Force.

In his address, Lt. Gen. Downs delivered a powerful message on the enduring strength of the Aggie Spirit. Using vivid storytelling, he spoke about two physical “pockets” of remembrance: one holding a bullet casing from a previous Muster where he honored his sister, and the other, an Aggie Ring sewn into the pocket of an Aggie soldier during World War II. Through these stories, he highlighted the timeless bond between Aggies and the deep sense of duty that transcends generations. His remarks emphasized the meaning of selfless service, the responsibility to remember those who came before us, and the unique role Texas A&M plays in developing not only scholars, but leaders grounded in core values. His address was a stirring call to unity, purpose, and reflection for Aggies around the world.