TOM DRAUDE 

Tom Draude is senior vice president and general manager of USAA's Southeast Regional Office (SERO) located in Tampa, Florida. He oversees operations and directs the activities of over 1,700 employees who provide insurance products and services to policyholders in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as the Bahamas, Guantanamo, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

Tom joined USAA's San Antonio, Texas, corporate headquarters in February 1993 as vice president of Support Services. In August 1993 he was promoted to senior vice president, Administration and Marketing for USAA Federal Savings Bank, a USAA subsidiary also located in San Antonio. In April 1995 he was reassigned to USAA's Property & Casualty Insurance Group, and after a brief period of orientation assumed the position of senior vice president and general manager of USAA's Western Regional Office (WESTRO) in Sacramento, California, in September 1995. He was reassigned to his current position in the Tampa office in April 1996.  He is also an Adjunct Professor at Saint Leo University teaching courses on the Vietnam War and War and Peace. 

Prior to joining USAA, Draude served in the United States Marine Corps for 30 1/2 years until his retirement on January 1, 1993, as a Brigadier General. His career included serving three times in Vietnam as an infantry platoon and company commander and as an advisor to the Vietnamese Marines. He was assistant division commander of the First Marine Division during Desert Shield and Desert Storm and responsible for Marine deception operations. He retired as director of Public Affairs for the Marine Corps and also served on the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces. He received ten personal awards for combat, including two Silver Star medals and the Purple Heart.  

Born in Kankakee, Illinois, Draude graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy. He obtained a masters degree in Military Arts and Science and was an honor graduate from the U.S. Army command and General Staff College. He is also a graduate of the National War College.  

Tom and his wife Sandi, the former Marysandra Campagna of Buffalo, NY, have three adult children: Loree, a former Navy lieutenant commander S-3 instructor pilot now a student attending Wharton College of Business; Patrick, a Naval Intelligence lieutenant commander; and, Ryan, a communications account executive.