History
Milestones
2024
In August, the Coastal Bend Occupational Advanced Skills Training (COAST) program is launched at a press conference with Governor Greg Abbott and Texas A&M University System and TEEX leadership at the Port of Corpus Christi. COAST is an expansion of the Texas A&M Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Advanced Manufacturing Hub in Brownsville and offers advanced, affordable workforce training.
Governor Greg Abbott joins Texas A&M University System and TEEX leadership for an April groundbreaking ceremony for the 30,000-square-foot South Texas Workforce Development Project near the Port of Brownsville. Scheduled for completion in mid-2026, the facility will be located at the Texas A&M RGV Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub, which is now solely operated by TEEX.
TEEX launches resources and training for first responders on electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage system (ESS) emergencies, including publishing a stakeholders’ report and informational website and developing no-cost training for first responders to prepare for and respond to EV/ESS fires.
2023
TEEX becomes the host agency for the Texas Fire Service Hall of Honor Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the Texas Fire Service. Four individuals were inducted into the Hall of Honor during its inaugural year.
TEEX opens the Les W. Bunte Jr. Administration and Classroom Complex at the Brayton Fire Training Field. The building is named for Chief Les W. Bunte Jr., a long-time leader in the Texas Fire Service and former division director of TEEX Fire and Emergency Services.
TEEX establishes a Wellness and Resiliency Program for first responders and TEEX employees. The program includes mental health peer support teams for first responder agencies and TEEX employees, as well as a mental health counseling center for first responders.
The National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) reaches a significant milestone in its 25th anniversary year—more than one million participants have been trained in homeland security preparedness for incidents involving weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, cyberattacks and other all-hazards disasters.
2022
TEEX’s two years of supporting the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) COVID response mission ends in April. More than 200 TEEX employees selflessly deployed to various locations around the state to distribute vital COVID supplies during the pandemic.
2021
TEEX becomes the sponsoring agency for the state’s Public Works Response Team at the request of TDEM. Now dubbed the Texas A&M Public Works Response Team, the team was created to assist communities with restoring critical infrastructure after a disaster.
The Texas A&M RGV Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub is launched at the Port of Brownsville in partnership with The Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.
2018
The TEEX Lineman Academy (now known as the Lineworker Academy) is launched in conjunction with Blinn College to train workers for the electric power industry.
2017
Texas Task Force 2 (TX-TF2), established in Dallas in 2007, becomes part of TEEX.
2013
TEEX dedicates the Robert E. “Bob” Wiatt Physical Skills Training Complex at the Riverside Campus (now Texas A&M-RELLIS). Mr. Wiatt was a former FBI agent and Director of Police and Security at Texas A&M University. This 10,500-square-foot facility offers classroom space, an indoor multi-use area for defensive tactic courses, and aerobic training as well as weight training and circuit training.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awards TEEX a contract to provide all the urban search and rescue (US&R) training for the National US&R Response System. The contract, which has been renewed multiple times, requires TEEX to develop new courses, update course curriculum, and deploy and maintain an online training portal and learning management system.
NERRTC becomes a founding member of the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium, providing training to enable communities and states to develop viable and sustainable cybersecurity programs.
The Center for Marine Training and Safety is transferred from Texas A&M University-Galveston (TAMUG) to TEEX. TEEX became responsible for the operations and facilities at the center, which provides U.S. Coast Guard regulated offshore training and other marine training classes.
2012
TEEX’s name is changed to the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted to add “A&M” to the names of all the A&M System’s state agencies at its August meeting.
2009
TEEX establishes the Texas Forensic Science Academy to train law enforcement personnel responsible for crime scene investigations in utilizing best practices when collecting crime scene evidence.
2007
TEEX opens the H.D. Smith Operations Complex at Brayton Fire Training Field. The facility was dedicated in honor of Chief Henry D. Smith on his 90th birthday. Smith led the TEEX Fire Protection Training Division from 1957 to 1986.
Texas Task Force 2 (TX-TF2) becomes operational and is located in Dallas. The concept of TX-TF2 was proposed in 2004 by the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
2005
A vintage World War II hangar at the Riverside Campus (now Texas A&M-RELLIS) is transformed into a state-of-the-art training facility for utility workers.
2004
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Les Bunte, Division Director of the Emergency Services Training Institute, in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Texas Municipal Fire Training School and its contribution to the homeland security of our state and nation.
2002
Texas A&M Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) becomes the first US&R team in the FEMA system to conduct a full-scale operational readiness exercise involving a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) scenario.
2001
TX-TF1 is deployed to New York City to assist in rescue and recovery efforts at the site of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. It is the team’s first national call-out by FEMA after joining the National Urban Search and Rescue Team. TX-TF1 has since been on a number of significant deployments.
Former Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Former Texas State Representative Kevin Brady participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening of Disaster City®.
The TEEX Region VI OSHA Education Center is the first OSHA Education Center in the nation to offer construction safety training in Spanish.
2000
TX-TF1 receives FEMA designation.
1999
The Frank M. Tejeda Center for Excellence in Environmental Operations is established in San Antonio with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its purpose is to improve public health and quality of life in U.S.-Mexico border communities by enhancing water and wastewater utility operations. The Center was named in memory of Mr. Tejada, who served as a member of the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Today the center’s offices are in El Paso and Laredo.
1998
The U.S. Department of Justice establishes the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) at TEEX to train emergency responders to respond to nuclear, biological or chemical attacks by terrorists, and TEEX joins the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium. The name of the center is now the National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center.
Construction begins on TEEX’s Disaster City® and Emergency Operations Training Center adjacent to Brayton Fire Training Field to train first responders in urban search and rescue, weapons of mass destruction, and chemical and biological threats.
1997
Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) is established as the first statewide US&R Team. Its name was changed to Texas A&M Task Force 1 in 2018 by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
1994
The TEEX Region VI OSHA Education Center is established by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration as an extension of the OSHA Training Institute. The center’s training provides the knowledge and skills necessary to create a safe workplace for employees and to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations. The facility was originally located in Arlington and moved into its current 30,000 square-foot facility in Mesquite in 1996.
TEEX establishes a new partnership with Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) to expand the agency’s maritime training along the Texas Gulf Coast.
1983
The Texas A&M University Board of Regents names the San Antonio training complex the H.B. Zachry Training Center after San Antonian H.B. Zachry, who was instrumental in establishing the center.
1982
The TEEX San Antonio Training Division opens a new training complex on 40 acres in the southeast side of the city, which provides technical training in occupational safety and health, water and wastewater, electric power, and more in a classroom and laboratory environment.
1975
TEEX announces plans to deliver extension training to Texans through regional centers. During the 1970s, the agency opens several regional centers, the first being the West Texas Regional Training Center in Floydada in 1975. TEEX also opened centers in Arlington and San Antonio and offices in Abilene, Houston and Galveston during this decade.
1966
The first TEEX Spanish Firemen’s Training School is established.
1963
The Texas Legislature changes the college’s name from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas to Texas A&M University.
1962
TEEX establishes the Industrial Firefighting School, which provides training designed for professionals associated with all types of industrial facilities and processes.
The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (Texas A.M.C.) purchases the former Bryan Army Air Field and renames it the A&M Riverside Research Annex. TEEX begins to expand its training programs to this new annex, which is now Texas A&M-RELLIS.
1960
Brayton Field (now Brayton Fire Training Field), named after H.R. Brayton, is established on 26 acres west of the Texas A.M.C. campus. The field has undergone several expansions to reach its current size of 297 acres.
1953
The first TEEX Municipal Police School is conducted.
1948
The A&M College System is established by the Texas A&M College Board of Directors. The Texas A.M.C. Industrial Extension Training Service and Firemen’s Training School merge to become the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). TEEX is charged with providing occupational and technical training services to comply with the Morrill Act and becomes one of the original eight member institutions in the A&M College System.
1940
The Industrial Extension Training Service is established at Texas A.M.C. and offers training programs for water and sewage plant operators, custodial workers, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and automobile mechanics.
1931
The Texas Legislature authorizes an annual Firemen’s Training School at Texas A.M.C. H.R. Brayton, a chemistry professor at Texas A.M.C., is named director of the school.
1929
The State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association selects Texas A.M.C. as the site for a firemen’s training program.
1924
A School of Vocational Teaching is established at Texas A.M.C., which includes rural, agricultural and industrial departments.
1919
Texas A.M.C. offers its first extension course under the supervision of the college’s Department of Agricultural Education.
1917
Congress passes the Smith-Hughes Act establishing public vocational technical education. Texas A.M.C. begins a trade and industrial teacher training service.
1914
The Smith-Lever Act establishes extension services to “give instruction and practical demonstration to persons not attending or residents in said colleges and imparting to such persons information on said subjects through field demonstrations, publications and otherwise.”
1876
The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (Texas A.M.C.) opens with 40 students and six faculty members.
1862
The Morrill Act (also known as the Land Grant College Act) was passed by the United States Congress providing for the donation of public land to states to fund higher education.
Related Documents:
TEEX 25 year History (download the PDF)