Since 2018, COL(Ret) Mary Garr has been the President/CEO of Family Service, a large multi-service San Antonio non-profit started in 1903, which works to empower individuals, transform families, and strengthen the health of communities by addressing social determinants of health through a trauma-informed care lens that directly impact peoples’ lives based on where they live, learn, work, play, and age across 14 counties in Texas. Specifically, she and her team work upstream to prevent or mitigate life, community, and systemic effects that affect peoples’ long term health and life potential, while working downstream to address impacts of current and past challenges.

She is an experienced leader with decades of roles in several industries, including healthcare, city management, nonprofits, and the military, as a CEO and COO. Over the course of her military career, she served in a variety of command and staff positions both in the United States and overseas, in hospital, academic, and operational assignments. Her last two Army assignments were serving as the last Army Garrison Commander at Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis and the first Mission Support Group Commander at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston during its transition into a Joint Base, and then as the first Chief Operating Officer standing up the San Antonio Military Health System which integrated Army and Air Force healthcare delivery in San Antonio.

She has been recognized by both military and civilian entities for her work and expertise. Among her awards and recognitions, she has received three military Legions of Merit, the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Regents Award, the Greater San Antonio Chamber Women’s Freedom Award for Public Service, the San Antonio Business Journal Women’s Leadership Award, LISC’s San Antonio Impact Leader Award, and induction into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.

Mary graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Studies and obtained Master’s degrees in Health Administration from Baylor University and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. She has been actively engaged in volunteering for years, serving on various boards, committees, and programs and continues to guest lecture into several master’s level programs and other forums.  She is married to another retired service member, COL(Ret) John Garr, MD; and has three adult children: one who served in the U.S. Army Infantry for four years, and the other two are in school.