August Pfluger Bio
August Lee Pfluger (born December 28, 1977) is an American politician and Air Force officer serving as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 11th congressional district since 2021. A Republican, he represents a sprawling district that covers much of West Texas, including his hometown of San Angelo. Pfluger is a career aviator and a retired active-duty colonel who continues to serve in the Air Force Reserve. His legislative work in Congress has focused on energy, national security, and veterans’ affairs, drawing on his two decades of military experience.
Early Life and Background
August Lee Pfluger was born in Harris County, Texas, in 1977. His family roots in the state run deep: his four-times-great-grandfather, German immigrant Henry Pfluger Sr. (1803–1867), founded Pflugerville, Texas. Growing up in San Angelo, Pfluger attended Central High School, where he played quarterback for the school’s football team and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. These formative experiences in West Texas shaped his early sense of service and community.
Pfluger’s path toward a military career was influenced by his maternal grandfather, a member of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. That family connection inspired Pfluger to pursue aviation and, eventually, a commission in the U.S. Air Force. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the United States Air Force Academy, followed by three master’s degrees: a Master of Science in aeronautical science from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, a Master of Science in military and operations science from Air University, and a Master of Science in international business and policy from Georgetown University.
Path to US Politics
After earning his commission in 2000, Pfluger spent the next two decades on active duty in the United States Air Force, flying the Northrop T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, and F-22A Raptor aircraft. He eventually commanded the 380th Expeditionary Operations Group at Al Dhafra Air Base, deploying in support of operations in Syria and Northern Iraq. By the end of his active-duty career, he had logged more than 2,000 flight hours, including over 300 combat hours, and had risen to the rank of colonel. He also appeared briefly in the Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag IMAX film in 2004.
Pfluger later served on the National Security Council during Donald Trump’s first presidency, gaining firsthand experience in foreign policy and national security decision-making. When Representative Mike Conaway announced his retirement from Texas’s 11th congressional district in 2020, Pfleger resigned from the NSC to pursue the seat. His military background, policy experience, and ties to West Texas positioned him as a strong candidate in a deeply Republican region.
August Pfluger Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Pfluger entered the 2020 race for Texas’s 11th congressional district at a moment when the seat was opening for the first time since its creation in 2005. In a crowded ten-way Republican primary, he cleared 50 percent of the vote, enough to secure the nomination in a single round. Facing Democratic nominee Jon Mark Hogg and Libertarian Wacey Alpha Cody in the general election, Pfluger benefited from a district with a nearly ten-to-one Republican registration advantage and won easily. He took office on January 3, 2021.
Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Pfluger’s first months in office placed him at the center of a national controversy. On January 6, 2021, the day of the storming of the United States Capitol, he joined 146 of his fellow congressional Republicans in voting to block certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, specifically objecting to Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes. The vote was part of the broader Trump-led effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Later that year, in August 2021, Business Insider reported that Pfluger had violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012 by failing to properly disclose stock trades made by him or his wife, worth between roughly $10,000 and $150,000. Despite these early headlines, Pfluger ran unopposed in 2022 and secured a second term, signaling durable support within his district.
Republican Era (2023–Present)
Since 2023, Pfluger has continued to build a record shaped by conservative priorities and a strong interest in foreign policy, particularly toward Israel. In July 2023, he proposed a congressional non-binding resolution stating that the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state, that Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia, and that the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel. The measure passed with support from 217 Republicans and 195 Democrats.
Pfluger voted for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023, voted to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib, supported the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, and voted for the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024, which became Public Law 118-50. He also voted to sanction the International Criminal Court after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and, in March 2024, co-authored an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner with Representative Don Davis criticizing efforts to condition U.S. aid to Israel. Pfluger ran unopposed again in 2024 and won a third term, and in 2025 he voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Pfluger’s most prominent legislative moments are his January 6 certification objection, his leadership role on Israel-related resolutions, and his unopposed re-elections in 2022 and 2024. His sustained military credentials, including command of the 380th Expeditionary Operations Group and service on the National Security Council, have shaped his identity in Congress as a national security-focused lawmaker representing West Texas.
August Pfluger Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pfluger’s family ties to Texas stretch back to the mid-1800s through his four-times-great-grandfather, German immigrant Henry Pfluger Sr., who founded Pflugerville, Texas. His maternal grandfather, a member of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, inspired Pfluger’s decision to pursue a military aviation career. His brother is the president of an oil and energy company in Midland, Texas, and an investor in Truth Social.
Personal Life
August Lee Pfluger is married to Camille Cole Pfluger. The couple has three young daughters and lives in San Angelo, Texas. Throughout his time in Congress, his family has remained based in West Texas, the region he has represented since first taking office in 2021.