Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University will celebrate commencement and commissioning with ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14, in Shapiro Field House. Both events are free and open to the public. At a 2 pm ceremony on Saturday, General David G. Perkins, Commanding General of the US Training and Doctrine Command, will deliver the university’s 2017 Commencement address to over 380 students matriculating from 32 undergraduate programs and one master’s program.
Perkins commands the US Army Training and Doctrine Command and is responsible for selecting and recruiting every U.S. Army Soldier, training and educating Army professionals, and designing the future U.S. Army. His numerous senior leadership positions include: Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House, 104th U.S. Congress; Battalion Commander during Operation Able Sentry; Brigade Commander during the invasion of Iraq; Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Division Commander during the transition of U.S. Forces from Iraq in 2010- 2011.
Perkins commanded the US Army’s premier education and leader development institution at Fort Leavenworth, responsible for managing training development and support, developing U.S. Army doctrine, and synchronizing leader development.
A native of New Hampshire, he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Perkins, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Military Science, participated in a panel discussion at Norwich University last year during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Norwich University, held in April 2016 during the ROTC Centennial Symposium.
At 9 am Sunday, during a joint services commissioning ceremony, graduating future officers will hear remarks from one of their own.
Air Force Major General Thomas A. Bussiere ’85 returns to the Norwich campus to speak to ROTC commissioning officers during a formal ceremony to mark the occasion. Bussiere is one of 23 Norwich alumni currently serving the nation as a general officer, admiral, or in the federal government Senior Executive Service.
As this year’s speaker, Bussiere will address more than 100 students anticipated to commission into four branches of the military – Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines.
See the full schedule of weekend activities here.
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu