On behalf of the University of Washington, congratulations to Pat Shanahan on his confirmation as Deputy Defense Secretary of the United States. As an alumnus with both deep ties to the University and the Pacific Northwest and a deep ethos of public service, he has been engaged with the University in numerous capacities for many years, most recently as chair and a long-standing member of the Board of Regents. We will miss his leadership and engagement tremendously.
As a senior executive at Boeing, a company whose first gift to the University a century ago was a full scale wind tunnel simulator that transformed generations of research in the aerospace industry and beyond, Pat has a deep understanding of the power of research to transform ideas, advancements, and society. He has seen firsthand how what begins in the laboratories of our nation’s great public universities translates into benefits for both the public and private sector and ultimately for the security and prosperity of our nation. We are proud and gratified that he will bring his leadership, experience and wisdom to this vital post in the federal government and look forward to his continued service on behalf of our nation and its people.