Paul Villagran is a lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University. With a background of more than 20 years of experience as an Air Force Public Affairs officer, his focus is on the Public Relations sequence with emphasis on the impact social media has had on the practice.

Prior to coming to Texas State University, Villagran was the Deputy Director for the United States Air Force Public Affairs Agency. In addition to having oversight of the Air Force’s premiere combat camera photographers and videographers and two Department of Defense award-winning multi-media production centers, he also had management responsibilities of the Air Force’s social media programs, which currently have nearly 2 million followers.
In previous assignments, Villagran was the Director of the Air Force’s Special Operations Public Affairs, worked on the Air Force’s Press desk in the Pentagon and managed the Department of Defense’s televisions and radio broadcast network in the Republic of Korea. As a Public Affairs officer he has worked with national and international media including NBC, ABC, CNN, Fox, NPR, BBC and Al Jazeera.

Villagran has a M.A. in Communication from the University of Oklahoma and a BS in Journalism from the University of Oregon. He also has a M.S. in Military Operational Art and Sciences from the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College. In 2010 he was a two-time Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil award recipient. In his spare time he enjoys working in the yard and working out at the gym.