A graduate of Texas A&M University, Ryan Thompson has served as a professional staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives for 16 years. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff to Texas Representative Ron Wright. Ryan’s responsibilities included coordinating the Congressman’s activities and priorities between the Committee, personal and campaign offices and managing the Washington, DC staff.Ryan has dedicated much of his time over the last ten years to organizing the Congressional Baseball Game, which raises millions of dollars for local charities each year. This annual bi-partisan and bi-cameral event helps fund many local charities in the Washington, DC area; The Washington Literacy Council, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Washington, DC and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, and many more. Because of his work with the baseball game, Ryan was presented with the 2013 Champion for Literacy Award on behalf of The Literacy Council.To further the charitable reach of the baseball game, Ryan founded a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Congressional Sports for Charity Foundation, to ensure that the success of the Congressional Baseball game and other congressional charity events live on for decades to come. In addition to running the day-to-day operations for Congressional Sports for Charity, he also serves as the charity board’s President and Chairman.Along with the Congressional Sports for Charity, Ryan is involved in many civic activities; his proudest leadership position is his role as President of the Texas State Society in Washington, DC. As a diehard Texan and proud Fightin’ Texas Aggie, the transition to DC was made much easier with the quick friends he made in the Texas State Society.Before attending Texas A&M, Ryan served four years as a non-commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps infantry.