Batten Announces General Paul M. Nakasone, Director of the National Security Agency, as 2022 Commencement Speaker

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy today announced that General Paul M. Nakasone will deliver the commencement address during the school’s in-person Academic Regalia Ceremony on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Nakasone is a four-star general in the United States Army who serves as the commander of United States Cyber Command and concurrently as director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service.

“General Nakasone is at the forefront of addressing critical public policy and security challenges facing the world today,” said Batten School Dean Ian Solomon. “We are honored to host him, and to give our Batten graduates an opportunity to hear from an outstanding leader who has devoted his career to serving this country.”

Nakasone assumed command of U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency and Central Security Service in May 2018. Prior to his current appointments, Nakasone served as commander of U.S. Army Cyber Command and the Cyber National Mission Force at U.S. Cyber Command. He served on two occasions as a staff officer on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and held command and staff positions across all levels of the Army, including command of a company, battalion and brigade, and served as the senior intelligence officer at the battalion, division and corps levels.

A native of White Bear Lake, Minn., Nakasone and his wife, Susan, are the proud parents of four children, including a member of the Batten School’s graduating class.

“We are thrilled that General Nakasone is joining us as this year’s commencement speaker,” said Senior Assistant Dean for Student and Career Services Jill Rockwell. “His distinguished career reflects so many of the virtues we hope to instill in our Batten students, and his participation is all the more meaningful given his familial connection to this year’s graduating class.”

Nakasone is a graduate of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., where he received his commission through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. He holds graduate degrees from the U.S. Army War College, the National Defense Intelligence College and the University of Southern California. He has served on assignments in the United States, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan, with his most recent overseas posting as director of intelligence, J2, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Nakasone’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

This is the Batten School’s first Academic Regalia Ceremony to be held in person since 2019. The ticketed ceremony will take place at James Monroe’s Highland on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 5:30 p.m.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who has made it possible to welcome General Nakasone to Charlottesville and to safely celebrate our incredible 2022 graduates in person,” said Solomon.