The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Lottery® Veteran Recognition: Ryan L. Thompson
11.21.2025 | Longhorn Sports Properties / Learfield
The former U.S. Navy Nuclear Field Machinist Mate will be honored when Texas Football hosts Arkansas on Nov. 22.
Ryan Thompson served his country as a nuclear field machinist mate in the U.S. Navy from 1990–1996. He was recruited to the Navy out of high school, and Thompson was inspired by the military's promise of discipline, education and challenge.
"I was attracted to the nuclear route because I wanted to learn about engineering and eventually become an engineer," Thompson said.
Thompson served aboard the USS Enterprise, a nuclear aircraft carrier; he worked as a propulsion mechanic, led critical reactor operations and trained personnel. Thompson was at sea when he learned he had been accepted as a student into The University of Texas at Austin, and he decided to pursue his goal of earning a college degree and transitioning into civilian life. While working toward his undergraduate degree, Thompson also began working at UT Austin as a power-plant mechanic's helper in 1998.
"I needed a job. The GI Bill only covered so much, and this was a great opportunity right on campus," Thompson said. "I'd be dirty from work, covered in grease and mud, and then going to physics class."
The job was the start to his civilian career. Thompson's service to UT Austin spans more than 27 years, and he is currently the executive director of Utilities and Energy Management. In this role, Thompson provides strategic leadership for critical infrastructure and leads a team of more than 200 staff members.
"Power, cooling, heating, the stadium lights, water – that's us. We also have a heavy hand in all the construction. UT is its own little city in a city," said Thompson, who has two degrees from UT and was recognized by the Cockrell School of Engineering as a member of the Mechanical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni.
He works collaboratively with engineering faculty on campus to create experiential learning opportunities for UT students. Hands-on knowledge has been vitally important to Thompson's career, and those experiences often align and connect, even when they occur years apart. For example, while serving aboard the USS Enterprise, Thompson learned how to make drinking water out of sea water. Now at UT, his team focuses on water conservation projects, such as how to cool facilities with clarified gray water and preserve drinking water.
"Working at UT brought together interests in engineering, design, and developing others," Thompson said.
Thompson has received several military honors, including the Naval Achievement Medal and the National Defense Medal. He has earned multiple certifications to facilitate his expanding work in civilian energy management, including Professional Engineer (State of Texas) and Certified Energy Manager.
As a team leader at UT, Thompson provides others with opportunities like those that helped him grow and expand his capabilities through education and training.
"It's transformative when you can be part of big things," Thompson said.
Thanks to the Texas Lottery, great things are happening all across Texas. The Texas Lottery consistently contributes nearly $2 billion of lottery revenue each year to good causes like public education and veterans' assistance programs. Beginning with the first veterans' dedicated scratch ticket game in 2009, the Texas Lottery has now contributed over $279 million to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance.
Since 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $41.5 billion in revenue for the state of Texas. Through strict adherence to its vision, mission and core values, the Texas Lottery is dedicated to ensuring that this support continues. The Texas Lottery's functions and activities are administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating a broad range of professions, occupations and industries in Texas.
