Off topic, but my guess is Col. Kostic picked TAMU as his grey beard assignment. Non-military people that means I plan to retire in this area. Many ROTC CoCs do this bc, at least for the AF, promotability as a CoC at a ROTC det is low. I also think this bc he went to AWC in 09, that is a school to make O6, and for him it was a sister school (ARMY, not Navy) that is a feather in his cap. Most will meet their O6 board within 2 yrs, assume 3 to pin. In essence he has been an O6 for about 6 yrs., at the very least, probably more like going on 8 yrs. He is out of the ball park now to make O7. Hence, grey bearding. JMPO, but he is waiting to hit the 30 yr mark to get his 75% retirement pay. 56 yrs old and 75% base pay as an O6 is not bad. Assuming he enlisted at 18 in 1981.
Basically they should use him as a recruitment tool for ROTC. Think about it. This is a guy that went enlisted and than ROTC. Pretty sure, with his education he could be an adjunct prof at TAMU or any college in the area just to keep busy if he doesn't want to go full time. O6 with 30 and 75% retirement will make @8K a month. 30 is where he tops out from a pay perspective as an O6. Thus, no reason to go further.
Back on topic.