Spring 2010 (PDF) - Virginia Tech

UNIVERSITY
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
The Honorable Robert F. McDonnell
71 st Governor of Virginia
After a long and distinguished career in the both the public and private sectors, the Honorable Robert L.
McDonnell took office as the 71st Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in January, 2010. He has pledged
to make education and economic development two of the hallmarks of his administration.
Before stepping down to run for governor, he served as Virginia’s Attorney General from 2006 to 2009. As
attorney general, he enacted mandatory minimum sentences for violent child sex predators, increased penalties
for drug dealers, worked to protect Virginians from terrorist threats, safeguarded private property rights, reduced
frivolous lawsuits, and helped make Virginia a national leader in combating internet crimes and identity theft.
Governor McDonnell received his undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame on a full Army
ROTC scholarship. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the university in 1976. He also
holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Boston University and a master’s degree in public
policy and a law degree from Regent University.
He served 21 years with the U.S. Army, both in active duty and reserve units. He retired as a Lieutenant
Colonel in 1997.
He first entered public office in 1991, after being elected to represent the 84th District (Virginia Beach) in the
Virginia House of Delegates. Before running for public office, he served as a business manager with American
Hospital Supply Corporation, as a sales manager for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, and was a prosecutor in the
Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
As a Delegate, he rose to be Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the House Courts of Justice
Committee. During this time he also authored legislation and secured funding of Virginia’s Judicial Performance
Evaluation Program which guides the General Assembly in reappointing judges. He was named the Network of
Victims of Crime Legislator of the Year in 1996, The National Child Support Enforcement Association National
Legislator of the Year in 1998, The Family Foundation of Virginia’s Legislator of the Year in 1998 and 2001,
and the Virginia Sheriff’s Association Legislator of the Year in 2005.
Governor McDonnell and his wife Maureen have five children.
9