Auburn University Chief Operating Officer Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess to receive honorary doctorate from National Intelligence University

Auburn University Chief Operating Officer and former Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess will receive an honorary Doctor of Strategic Intelligence degree at the National Intelligence University’s July 27 commencement ceremony.

Burgess served as the 17th director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from March 2009 to July 2012. After retiring from the Army following a 38-year military career, Burgess returned to Auburn, his undergraduate alma mater, in December 2012 to serve as senior counsel for National Security, Cyber Programs, and Military Affairs, before being appointed Auburn’s chief operating officer this May.

“We congratulate Lt. Gen. Burgess on receiving another well-deserved honor recognizing his distinguished service to our nation,” said Auburn President Steven Leath. “Auburn benefits daily from his expertise and leadership in our commitment to excellence.”

At Auburn, Lt. Gen. Burgess oversees a range of operational and auxiliary services in an effort to streamline processes and improve management efficiencies as Auburn moves forward to expand its research and development programs and address some of society’s most challenging issues with an emphasis on advancing knowledge in health sciences, improved sustainable resources, advanced manufacturing and cyber security.

Burgess was honored in 2013 by the Auburn Alumni Association 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.

As previously announced, Director of National Intelligence Daniel R. Coats will deliver the NIU's July 27 commencement address to the graduating class of approximately 250 intelligence and national security professionals who have completed one of the university’s three degree programs: Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence, Master of Science and Technology Intelligence or Bachelor of Science in Intelligence.

National Intelligence University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education with its main campus located in Bethesda, Maryland. It operates under the Defense Intelligence Agency as the intelligence community’s sole accredited, federal degree-granting institution. NIU faculty consist of subject matter experts from around the intelligence community who bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience, as well as academic qualifications, to the classroom. In addition to the three degree programs, NIU offers graduate certificates in intelligence on specialized topics. Its alumni include many notable intelligence and national security leaders.