Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Industry Experience
Manuel M. (Manny) Vela joined Texas A&M University as associate vice president and chief operating officer of the Higher Education Center at McAllen on May 15, 2023. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley Baptist Health System since 2012, overseeing both Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen and Valley Baptist-Brownsville. Mr. Vela served as the health system’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, from 2003 to 2011. During his tenure as Chief Legal Officer, he was involved with a variety of major corporate transactions, including the purchase of Brownsville Medical Center by Valley Baptist and 2004 and a joint venture with Vanguard Health Systems in 2011. Mr. Vela was born and raised in Harlingen and obtained both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to working at Valley Baptist, he was a partner with his father Moises V. Vela in the Vela and Vela law firm. He is active in many local civic, state and national organizations. Mr. Vela and his wife Amy are the proud parents of four children; Brianna (husband: Derick Garcia), Manny Mac (wife: Ashley), Tomás and Esteban.
