Tracy Ruger

Mr. Tracy Ruger was appointed the Chief, Facilities Management Service for the G.V. (Sonny Montgomery) VA Medical Center on March 23, 2014.  This is his first VA assignment.  He is a retired Air Force Veteran with 30+ years engineering experience.

Military assignments included Scott AFB, Illinois; Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany; Pope AFB, North Carolina; Air National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews AFB, Maryland; and the 164th Airlift Wing (TN ANG), Memphis, Tennessee.  As the Mission Support Group Commander, 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis, Tennessee, he spearheaded efforts regarding the master planning, land exchange agreement, budgeting, and construction of a new $231 million airbase for the 164th Airlift Wing’s relocation and mission conversion from C-5 Galaxy to C-17 Globemaster aircraft.  The relocation program (2004-2008; consisting of execution of 10 military construction cooperative agreements, 7 construction contracts involving 15 facilities totaling 560,000 square feet on 118 acres) was the National Guard Bureau’s largest single construction endeavor to date.

Mr. Ruger’s educational background includes a B.S. in Civil Engineering, 1984 and M.S. Environmental Studies, 1988 from Southern Illinois University.  He is a graduate from Squadron Officer School in 1992, Air Command and Staff College in 2003, and Air War College in 2010.  Mr. Ruger’s decorations include the Legion of Merit, Tennessee Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal.  He served as the Director, Society of American Military Engineers – Scott Field Post, in 1998-1999.

As the Chief Engineer, he provides leadership to 76 full-time personnel in the functional areas of Safety and Occupational Health, Environmental Compliance, Emergency Management, Energy Management, Biomedical Equipment Support, and Maintenance & Operations (Boiler & Chiller Plants, Paint, Carpentry, HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Transportation & Grounds, and Lock Shops).  Manages a $10 million budget annually to support facility operations at the medical center.  As a Service Chief, applies complex leadership and administrative expertise associated with solving critical health care facility issues and activities that impact the organization’s mission of delivering first class healthcare to our Veterans.