COD President Dr. Ann Rondeau to Keynote Veterans Day at Illinois State Fair
College of DuPage President Dr. Ann Rondeau will provide the keynote presentation at this year’s Veterans Day at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 14.
“We are very impressed with Dr. Rondeau’s distinguished leadership experience and are pleased that she has accepted our invitation to speak on this important day at the Illinois State Fair,” said Harry Sawyer, Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. “In the more than 35 years of my involvement in this program, Dr. Rondeau is the first woman invited to provide the keynote at this event. While we honor all veterans on this day, we want to emphasize the important role women have in their service and protection of our nation. We also want to emphasize opportunities for growth and accomplishment after their military careers. As the second female three-star Admiral in the history of the Navy, and now the President of the largest community college in Illinois, we look forward to Dr. Rondeau serving as an inspiration to our veterans.”
Dr. Ann Rondeau retired from the U.S. Navy as a three-star admiral in 2012. She is the second woman to have achieved this rank. On July 1, 2016, Dr. Ann Rondeau was appointed by the College of DuPage Board of Trustees to serve as the College’s sixth president. She is a past president of the National Defense University, a consortium of five colleges and nine research centers in Washington, DC. She then served as a partner and later an independent consultant with the IBM Watson Group. Dr. Rondeau has extensive leadership experience in significant military and educational roles, including Deputy Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command in Illinois, Pentagon Director/Chief of Staff for the U.S. Navy Staff, Commander of the Navy Personnel Development Command in Virginia, Commander of the Naval Service Training Command at Great Lakes, Ill., Pacific Fleet Staff Chief of Staff in Hawaii, Commanding Officer of Naval Support Activity in Tennessee and other staff and commanding responsibilities with policy, support and student service.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to share my experiences in the military, as well as my experiences after retiring from my responsibilities serving this nation,” Dr. Rondeau said. “My message on that day will hopefully encourage men and women to take advantage of the educational and other opportunities available to them after their military service. I want to spread the word about veteran’s services so they can move into new careers and continue to contribute to this great nation.”
Click here for more information about this year’s Illinois State Fair, a schedule of events for the Aug. 14 Veterans Day and services provided through the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
Vice President for Marketing and Communications Joe Moore, (630) 942-2371, moorej7718@cod.edu.
College of DuPage is an accredited community college that serves more than 29,000 students each term. The College, which grants nine associate degrees and more than 170 certificates in 100 areas of study, is the second largest provider of public undergraduate education in Illinois.
