From the Texas A&M University System:
Kelly Templin, College Station’s city manager, is leaving that post to become director of the Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS campus.
Templin, who starts April 2, takes over from John Barton, who is resigning to move to Colorado to be closer to family.
“John Barton has done a wonderful job launching the RELLIS campus,” said John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “Kelly’s expertise and enthusiasm in economic development will help make the transition seamless.”
In January 2016, Barton joined the Texas A&M System to work on strategic initiatives and was promoted to Associate Vice Chancellor and Director of RELLIS campus seven months later. In addition to working to convert the former World War II airbase, known as Riverside Campus, Barton also was a key staffer to the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas.
Before joining the Texas A&M System, Barton worked with the Texas Department of Transportation where he retired as Deputy Executive Director. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1986 and is a Distinguished Graduate of the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering.
“It has been a tremendous honor and pleasure to serve as the inaugural Director of the RELLIS Campus,” said John Barton. “This innovative and transformative vision of our Board of Regents, Chancellor Sharp and Dean Kathy Banks will undoubtedly create a lasting, positive impact on this community, the State of Texas, and our nation. I feel very privileged to have played a key leadership role in making this vision a reality. I am proud of all we have accomplished so quickly and look forward to seeing many great things come from the RELLIS Campus for decades to come.”
Templin, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University, has been College Station’s city manager since 2013. He has worked in and with municipal governments for more than two decades, including as city manager for Seabrook Texas.
“I am honored and humbled to have the chance to help fulfill the Chancellor’s vision for the RELLIS Campus,” Templin said. “Anyone who knows me knows of my great love for Texas A&M and all that it stands for. The fact that my father was housed at Bryan Air Force Base during his freshman year at A&M makes this opportunity all the more symbolic and important to me.”
Located on 2,000 acres, RELLIS will be home to two education centers and seven new engineering research and laboratory facilities, including Blinn College’s new Bryan building and the statewide headquarters for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.
Space is also available for corporations and government agencies who want to partner in research efforts in autonomous vehicles, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure renewal, among others.
Chancellor Sharp announced the RELLIS campus in May 2016 and the first phase of construction, totaling more than $300 million, will be finished by 2020.
The first students will be studying at RELLIS this fall, allowing them to earn associate degrees at Blinn College and seamlessly finishing 4-year-degrees from Texas A&M System universities from around the state without leaving the Bryan campus.