Virginia Tech alumnus Jon Rucker to deliver D.C. area commencement address
Jon Rucker '96 will deliver the greater Washington, D.C., metro area spring commencement address on Sunday, May 18. Nearly 500 students will graduate from the more than 45 graduate degree and certificate programs in the D.C. area and online.
Rucker is president and CEO of Ultra Intelligence & Communications, where he leads a global team delivering advanced communication, cybersecurity, and command and control solutions to mission partners worldwide.
Rucker spent 19 years in an array of technical, program management, and executive leadership roles at Lockheed Martin and was the senior vice president of the $700 million Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence group for CACI International. He also held the position of senior vice president with SAIC, overseeing its Army portfolio valued at $1.4 billion, prior to his current role.
A 1996 graduate of the aerospace engineering program, Rucker also holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Pennsylvania State University. He is a founding donor of the Little Hokie Hangout fund and was selected as a Graduate School Thought Leader by the dean of the Graduate School.
“We are delighted that Mr. Rucker will join us to share his professional journey with our graduating students and inspire them with the wide variety of experiences and life lessons that have led to his success,” said Barbara Hoopes, associate dean of the Graduate School in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area.
This year’s graduating class in the D.C. area includes more than 160 students earning a Master of Engineering in computer engineering or computer science and applications; 67 graduates from the Pamplin College of Business; 43 graduates from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; 27 graduates from the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design; and 27 graduates from the College of Natural Resources and Environment. In addition, 96 students have earned a Master of Information Technology, an online interdisciplinary program between the College of Engineering and the Pamplin College of Business.
Student commencement speakers will include Priyansh Pradhan and Rukayat Adeniran. Priyansh hails from Dhar, India, and is part of the inaugural cohort of students in the Virginia Tech-NMIMS collaboration. He will be receiving a Master of Science in business administration with a concentration in global business analytics. Adeniran is a native of Ghana, and will be receiving a Master of Science in business administration with a concentration in hospitality and tourism management.
The D.C. area ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, with check-in beginning at 11:15 a.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed and available to watch on-demand. More information and details on the D.C. area commencement ceremony can be found online.