County Progress would like to thank all of our Veterans for their service. As we observe Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we are honored to feature Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody.
Elected in November 2022 to fill an unexpired term, Commissioner Moody was re-elected in November 2024 to a full term. He is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Reserves and is currently serving with Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, where he supports planning and executing large multinational military exercises for special operations in the Middle East. He also serves on the Advisory Council for Soldier’s Angels, a San Antonio-based nonprofit.
Commissioner Moody is a fourth-generation veteran. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he played football for the Midshipmen and was recognized as a 2nd Team Academic All-American. He graduated with distinction as the top economics major in his class and was a state finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship.
Moody was selected for naval flight training after graduation and went on to become a Marine F-18 fighter pilot. He served his country for over a decade on active duty and completed combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, he was deployed to Iraq’s Al Anbar province as a combat pilot providing air support in Ramadi, Fallujah, and Baghdad during the Iraq “surge.” A few years later, Moody gave up orders to be a flight instructor in Florida, instead volunteering to deploy to Marjah, Afghanistan, as a forward air controller with 3rd Battalion/9th Marines in the Helmand Province.
His personal awards include an individual Air Medal with three additional strike/flight awards, three Navy Commendation Medals, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Once again, we would like to thank Commissioner Moody for his service and for taking the time to visit with us:
County Progress: What led you to enlist in the military?
Commissioner Moody: I’m really proud of my family’s history of military service which goes back for at least four generations and includes both my granddads, my dad, and my brother who is still an active duty naval officer. I wanted to continue that legacy. It’s an honor to serve my country as a Marine and Bexar County as a Commissioner.
County Progress: Will you please share a bit about your active duty service?
Commissioner Moody: Serving in Afghanistan was truly eye-opening. Our military missions today are less about direct combat and more about providing stability and security, working alongside local communities, visiting schools, and partnering with law enforcement. I’ll never forget the times we’d play volleyball with the kids or hand out school supplies. They would get so excited to receive a paper binder or a pen, simple items that many of us take for granted in America. A 2024 United Nations report found that approximately 85 percent of Afghans live on less than one dollar a day. Experiencing that firsthand reminded me how fortunate we are to live in the United States and deepened my gratitude for those blessings.
County Progress: What led you to turn down the flight instructor orders and instead deploy to Afghanistan?
Commissioner Moody: There was a critical need at the time. The Marines on the ground required an air officer, someone who could provide overwatch and keep them protected, and I had the skills and experience to do it. I felt a real obligation to step up and fill that gap. I wanted to be there for my fellow Marines.
County Progress: What prompted you to run for County Commissioner?
Commissioner Moody: I’ve always been very engaged locally, and when the Precinct 3 seat opened, I saw an opportunity to serve. With my business background, I felt I could bring a different perspective to local government and really make an impact. That sense of opportunity and responsibility drove me to step forward and run. And looking back, I think we’ve been able to do exactly that.
County Progress: Are there any skills/lessons learned through your service that have shaped your service to your county?
Commissioner Moody: My military service taught me a lot about working with people from diverse backgrounds all focused on a shared mission. That experience gave me a unique perspective on leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Leading large teams in complex, high-pressure environments like combat is truly irreplaceable training. It also gave me a broader view of the world. Having seen the challenges other countries face, I’m reminded every day how fortunate we are here in our state and our nation.
County Progress: What is your favorite thing about serving as a County Commissioner?
Commissioner Moody: I enjoy solving problems and bringing people together. I meet people from all walks of life and help connect the dots. Being able to find solutions, or at least offer potential solutions, is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. – To learn more about Commissioner Moody, visit https://bit.ly/Comm-Moody.