Alfred S. Wagner was born June 12, 1947, and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He started attending classes at Texas Tech University in 1965 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1969. At Texas Tech, Wagner was active with the Kappa Alpha Order, Tau Beta Pi, and Alpha Pi Mu fraternities. Wagner served in Vietnam as a Combat Information Center officer on the USS Bordelon (DD 881) from October 1972 to April 1973. For his service in Vietnam, Wagner was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with Campaign Star, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, and the National Defense Medal. He is married to fellow TTU class of 1969 graduate Barbara Edgeworth Wagner, and has two children, Jeffrey and Jarett.