Background
John Ragan was born on December 16, 1948 in Morganton, North Carolina.
John Ragan was born on December 16, 1948 in Morganton, North Carolina.
He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and received a master"s degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. He also attended the University of Tennessee as a post-graduate student and the University of Oklahoma, the University of Southern California, and the University of North Carolina in professional capacities.
He served as a commissioned officer for 24 years, as an Air Force pilot. He also taught as adjunct faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Tennessee. He has been a business consultant with 27 businesses, a number of which are on the Fortune 100 list.
In 2010, he was elected, and re-elected for two subsequent terms, as State Representative to the General Assembly for the 33rd district, formerly represented by Jim Hackworth, focusing on education, illegal immigration, and the economy.
In 2010, he said, based upon academic studies by Vanderbilt and other sources, there wasn"t sufficient evidence that public funding for early childhood education was needed. A year later, he voted to overturn teacher union collective bargaining rights but supported collaborative bargaining.
Personal life
He is a Southern Baptist, and pro-life.
In the 109th Tennessee General Assembly serves as Vice Chair of the House Government Operations Committee, Chair of the Joint Subcommittee on Education, Health and General Welfare, Vice Chair of Joint Subcommittee of Judiciary and Government, Chair of the House Energy Task Force, Company-Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures Nuclear Legislative Working Group, Member of the House Transportation Subcommittee and main Committee, Member of Southern States Energy Board.