By Rose Cahalan in 40 Acres, Special on |

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UT’s 131st commencement speaker will be Admiral William McRaven, BJ ’77, Life Member and Distinguished Alumnus, the University announced today.

McRaven, who is best-known for having commanded the attack that killed Osama bin Laden, is commander of the United States Special Operations Command. He studied journalism and Middle Eastern Studies at UT and also participated in the Naval ROTC program.

In 2012, he was named a recipient of the Texas Exes’ highest honor for alumni, the Distinguished Alumnus Award (see the video profile above).

“The University, and in particular the Naval ROTC unit, taught me leadership,” McRaven told the Alcalde last year. “I learned the value of hard work and discipline. I was inspired by the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of my military instructors, who had served in Korea and Vietnam. Their sense of duty to this great nation left an indelible mark on me.”

He returns to the Forty Acres on Saturday, May 17 at 8 p.m. for the commencement address.

Photo by Michael O’Brien.