Biography

John M. Ray is the Director of the Institute for Law Enforcement & Protective Services Excellence at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). Prior to joining TEEX, he had a distinguished career in law enforcement with several agencies in Texas. His career included serving as Assistant Police Chief of Victoria Police Department, Executive Chief Deputy for Operation with Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, and Assistant Police Chief of Longview Police Department. Ray became fluent in many aspects of law enforcement and administration through his police experiences. John is a graduate of the 269th Session of the FBI National Academy, the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration’s (ILEA) School of Executive Leadership (42nd), and School of Police Supervision (70th).

John is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving as an intelligence imagery production specialist and reaching the rank of Sergeant (E-4).

John holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in Political Science from the University of Texas at Tyler, and a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. The focus of his dissertation and ongoing research concerns deliberative democratic processes applied to the practice of community policing. Additionally, he authored a book on community policing, entitled Rethinking Community Policing.