Honorary Degrees Awarded at Corps of Cadets Commencement 2014

CHARLESTON, SC – The Citadel Board of Visitors presented honorary degrees to three people—Gen. Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody, the honorable Deborah Lee James, and Lt. Gen. Ellie Givan “Buck” Shuler Jr.—during commencement exercises for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets on Saturday, May 10, 2014. The citations appear in alphabetical order.

 

Gen. Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody was commissioned in the Women’s Army Corps in 1975. She originally planned to serve a two-year commitment, but with her roots four generations deep in military service, her calling was much greater and she found herself devoting the next 37 years of her life to serving her country.

In 1992, General Dunwoody became the first woman to command a battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division. In 2000, she became Fort Bragg’s first female general officer. In 2004 she became the firt woman to command the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, Virginia. And on November 14, 2008, she made history when she became the first woman to achieve the rank of four-star general.

During her last four years of service, Gen. Dunwoody was in charge of the largest global logistics command in the Army comprising 69,000 military and civilians, located in all 50 states and more than 140 countries.

For her leadership and her extraordinary service to her country, The Citadel Board of Visitors is proud to present Gen. Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody the honorary degree of Doctor of Military Science.

 

The Honorable Deborah Lee James

The Honorable Deborah Lee James is the 23rd secretary of the U.S. Air Force. She is responsible for the oversight of organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 690,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian airmen and their families as well as an annual budget of more than $110 billion.

Secretary James has 30 years of senior homeland and national security experience. She served as president of Science Applications International Corporation’s (SAIC) Technical and Engineering Sector where she was responsible for 8,700 employees and more than $2 billion in revenue.

In addition, she held a variety of positions with SAIC, including senior vice president and director of Homeland Security.

Secretary James earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Area Studies from Duke University and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.

In recognition of her leadership and her dedication to national security, The Citadel Board of Visitors is proud to present Secretary Deborah Lee James with the honorary degree of Doctor of Aerospace Science.

 

Lt. Gen. Ellie Givan “Buck” Shuler Jr.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Ellie Givan (Buck) Shuler, Jr., was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from The Citadel in 1959 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

During his 32-year Air Force career, Gen. Shuler accrued more than 7,600 flying hours, flying 107 fighter combat missions in Vietnam as well as 17 combat support sorties in the Korean Pueblo Crisis, Panama’s Operation Just Cause and the first Persian Gulf War.

He also commanded two non-tactical squadrons, two B-52 bombardment wings, two SAC air divisions and the Eighth Air Force and served as the director of operations for Strategic Air Command.

Gen. Shuler served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum and was responsible for the museum’s construction and operational status. He continues to serve on the board and the Eighth Air Force Foundation.

In recognition of his distinguished military service and his loyalty to his alma mater, The Citadel Board of Visitors is proud to present Lieutenant Gen. Ellie Givan Shuler, Jr., with the honorary degree of Doctor of Aerospace Science.