Ryan Crocker, dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, received an honorary Doctor of National Security Affairs degree, Honoris Causa, during the June 10 graduation ceremonies at the National Defense University. The ceremony was held at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., at which 605 students from the College of International Security Affairs, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the National War College received degrees. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the commencement speaker.
Considered the nation’s premier center for joint professional military education, the National Defense University is a graduate-level institution that prepares future leaders of the armed forces and other civilian agencies for high-level policy, command, and staff responsibilities.
Dean Crocker was honored by NDU for his many years of distinguished diplomatic service. During his 37-year career, Crocker served as ambassador to Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon, and also had assignments in Iran, Qatar, and Egypt as well as Washington. He served as the International Affairs Advisor at the National War College in 2003. Among his many awards, Crocker holds the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor; the Presidential Distinguished Service Award; the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Service; the Presidential Meritorious Service Award; as well as the State Department Distinguished Honor Award. In September 2004, President George W. Bush conferred on him the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the foreign service.
Crocker graduated with a B.A. in English from Whitman College in 1971, and was honored by his alma mater in 2001 with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He became dean of the Bush School in January 2010.
