A seventh generation Texan, Van Taylor is a family man, businessman, and decorated Iraq War Veteran. Growing up, Van earned the Eagle Scout rank from the future President George Bush.
After high school, Van attended Harvard College from which he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in history. After graduating college, Van volunteered to serve his country and received a commission in the United States Marine Corps.
He attended The Basic School, Infantry Officer Course, and graduated first in his class from Sniper Employment Officer Course. He completed Intelligence School as the Marine Honor Graduate and commanded First Marine Regiment’s Reconnaissance Platoon in Camp Pendleton, CA. After completing that assignment, he served as an intelligence officer for an artillery battalion. Van earned the Navy Achievement Medal for devising a quantitative combat power analysis system.
My inspiration for seeking, and serving in, public office is to ensure we hand off a strong and prosperous Texas to the next generation. I believe our children deserve every opportunity to pursue their dreams, and without question, a strong education system is the foundation of this objective. I believe our schools work best with local control, great teachers, and parental involvement. Our Collin County schools are truly the crown jewels of our community, and our area has greatly benefited from their drive for excellence and ability to attract the best educators.