Mike Ragsdale

Mike Ragsdale is President of Tennessee Strategies, a statewide consulting firm. He previously served two terms as Knox County Mayor (2002–2010) following 16 years as Executive Vice President and Partner at Barber & McMurry Architects, during which he was also twice elected to the Knox County Commission. His career began at Pellissippi State Community College, where he served as Director of Admissions and Records and later as Dean of Administrative Affairs.

Ragsdale has held leadership roles with numerous civic, nonprofit, and professional organizations across Knoxville and East Tennessee. His public service has been recognized with awards from the National Association of Counties, Technology 2020, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

A native of Cleveland, Tennessee, Ragsdale earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee—where he received the Torchbearer Award—before earning a master’s in education from Auburn University and a doctorate in education from UT.

As a lifelong Tennessean and gun owner, Ragsdale strongly supports both the Second Amendment and responsible gun ownership. He is proud to support Safer TN’s mission to create a safer environment for all Tennesseans.