Truman State
University Foundation Board of Directors
Tom Ballard
Tom
Ballard, of Granger, Iowa, grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, and attended Truman State
University from 1965 to 1969, graduating with a bachelor of science in
education.
After graduation, he spent the next two and a half years as
an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as an infantry officer with the 1st
Marine Division in Vietnam in 1970. He started a career in the computer industry
with Honeywell and later worked for Loral-Rolm Mil Spec Computers. In 1989, he
was hired by Cordant Technologies and became one of several principle
shareholders in the company when it was purchased from the parent company,
Centel Telephone in Chicago. Tom had a successful career with Cordant as vice
president-command, control and intelligence programs and a corporate office. He
retired in 1997 after Cordant was purchased by a major defense contractor.
In 2001, he moved to Iowa and is a pilot and flight
instructor. He also has several business interests that include general partner
in an Iowa-based ethanol plant, interest in a Virginia-based water purification
company and managing a farm he and his wife, Susan, own in northwest Iowa. He
enjoys sailboat racing and has twice won the Key West Race Week. He was
appointed to the Foundation Board in 2005 and received a 2007 Distinguished
Service Award from the University in 2007.