Mike Pia joined the Texas A&M Foundation as its Chief Investment Officer in May of 2020 and leads the Foundation’s investment team in driving critical decisions for the success of the Foundation’s $2 billion long-term investment pool to the sole benefit of Texas A&M University. Mike is also a key member of the Foundation’s executive team that is charged with charting a path to achieve the Foundation’s vision of being amongst the most trusted philanthropies in higher education.
Mike came to the Foundation from the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) of Texas, where he held a variety of roles to include managing director of the Trust’s strategic relationships, chair of the management committee, investment committee member, chief of staff, as well as a senior real estate portfolio manager.
Prior to his career in finance, Mike was a Marine Officer and served in the United States Marine Corps on both Active Duty and in the Reserves, deploying overseas four times. His primary military specialty was a F-18D Weapons and Sensor Officer (WSO) and he also served as a flight instructor and battalion air officer. Following his Active Duty military service, Mike worked for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics as a senior systems engineer on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program as well as the Advanced Development Program (ADP).
Mr. Pia has earned both CFA and CAIA charters. He also holds an MBA degree from Texas Christian University, an M.S. in Software Engineering from the University of West Florida and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering With Distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy. He is married and has two daughters, both of whom are Aggies.