Burgess overseeing university operational and auxiliary services

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Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ron Burgess will oversee a range of Auburn University operational and auxiliary services in an effort to streamline processes and improve management efficiencies.

Auburn President Steven Leath moved Burgess into the role of chief operating officer effective April 30, assuming many of the responsibilities previously held by Executive Vice President Don Large, who is retiring in June. Burgess has served as the university's senior counsel for national security programs, cyber programs and military affairs since 2012.

"His strong organizational skills and excellent interpersonal ability are well known at Auburn and among his military colleagues," Leath said. "He will help us create efficiencies across campus."

University functions and offices reporting to Burgess include The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, the Auburn University Bookstore, property and facilities, trademark and licensing, surplus property, parking, sustainability, and business and financial operations.

Burgess, a 1974 Auburn ROTC graduate, retired from the Army as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2012. Throughout his 38-year Army career and in his role with Auburn, Burgess has continued to serve the U.S. intelligence community by providing leadership and strategic vision that contributes to safeguarding U.S. national security interests. He is also a former acting principal deputy director of National Intelligence.

The Auburn Alumni Association in 2013 honored Burgess with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015, he was inducted into the United States Army Military Intelligence Hall of Fame and, in 2016, was inducted into the Army ROTC National Hall of Fame.

He earned a Master of Science in education from the University of Southern California in 1980 and a Master of Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1986. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, from LaGrange College in 2015 and received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Stetson University in 2017.

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