UNA’s December Commencement to Feature Major General Reynold N. Hoover

Dec. 3, 2014

Bryan Rachal, Public Affairs and Media Relations 

FLORENCE, Ala. – December graduates at the University of North Alabama will get the opportunity to hear from one of the country’s finest.  Maj. Gen. Reynold N. Hoover will be the commencement speaker for the University’s graduation festivities. 

UNA will once again host two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., in Flowers Hall.  Hoover will speak at both events. 

Hoover recently became the director of the J-2/6 National Guard Bureau (NGB) in October of this year.  As part of the new position, Hoover serves as the Director of Intelligence for the NGB Chief providing policy oversight and guidance on intelligence matters involving the National Guard. As the J-6, he provides strategic policy and advice involving command, control, communications and computer systems supporting joint military, interagency, combatant command, and State Joint Force Headquarters information sharing. 

As a citizen-soldier, Hoover was appointed by President George W. Bush as a special assistant to the President for Homeland Security, and senior director for Nuclear Defense & Continuity Policy on the Homeland Security Council.  While in the private sector, Hoover served as an assistant vice president at CSX Transportation and CSX Intermodal, Inc.  He is a member of the Florida Bar and District of Columbia Bar and was also a commercial litigation attorney in Jacksonville, Florida. 

A native of Windsor, Connecticut, Hoover earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned from the United States Military Academy in 1983.  He holds a master’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College, earned his law degree from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, and is a 2003 graduate of the U.S. Army War College.  His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. 

For a complete bio on Major General Hoover: http://www.una.edu/calendar/2014/12/commencement-speaker.html