College Welcome

24th Annual College of Engineering Welcome Event

Keynote Speaker

Gil West (BS MAE ’84), Chief Executive Officer of Hertz Global Holdings

Gil West is the Chief Executive Officer of Hertz and a member of the Board of Directors. He is focused on building on the company’s extraordinary family of brands, deepening its commitment to service and operational excellence, and executing strategic initiatives that further position Hertz as a global mobility leader.

Before joining Hertz in April 2024, West served as Chief Operating Officer of Cruise LLC, General Motors’ majority-owned autonomous vehicle subsidiary. Prior to that, he was Chief Operating Officer at Delta Air Lines from 2014 to 2020, overseeing worldwide operations and more than 70,000 employees along with the company’s subsidiary businesses. Under his direction, Delta achieved industry-leading customer service performance and achieved record earnings for the industry. West held various leadership positions at Delta from 2008 to 2014, following his tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc., a provider of transportation services, from 2006 to 2007. 

West serves on the board of Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from National University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Past Keynote Speakers*

	2023 Anna P. Davis (BS CHE ’91) Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), North America for Syngenta 2023 College Welcome (YouTube)
	2022 Chris Olinger (BSCS ’89) D-WISE, AN INSTEM COMPANY 2022 College Welcome (YouTube)
	2021 Bhavana Bartholf (IMSEI) Chief Digital and Transformation Officer, Microsoft Solutions Worldwide 2021 Video Podcast
	2020 Edward P. Fitts (BSIE ‘61)
	2019 Tim Humphrey (BSEE ’96) IBM
	2018 Quint Barefoot (BSCHE ’85) Entrepreneur
	2017 Dr. Christine Mann Darden Retired member of The Senior Executive Service NASA Langley Research Center
	2016 Congressman Chris Collins (BSME ’72) New York’s 27th Congressional District in the House of Representatives
	2015 Jason Rhode (MSEE ’93 Ph.D. ’95 ) President and CEO Cirrus Logic
	2014 Suzanne Beckstoffer (BSCE ‘82) Director of Process and Tools Newport News Shipbuilding
	2013 Mark A. Norcross (BSFMM ‘76) Founder and Consultant Mark David, Inc.
	2012 Dr. B. Jayant Baliga Distinguished University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
	2011 Jake Hooks (MSE ’78) President, Automotive North America, Eaton Corporation
	2010 Mark Wyatt (CSC ’80) VP, Smart Grid & Energy Systems Duke Energy
	2009 Tom McPherson (EE ’76, ’77) Managing Member Cluny Aviation LLC
	2008 Steve Angel (CE ’77) Chairman, President & CEO Praxair
	2007 Lee Mazzocchi (CE ’90) Vice President Progress Energy
	2006 Scot Wingo (ECE ’92) President and CEO ChannelAdvisor Corporation
	2005 Gayle Lanier (IE ’82) Vice President
	2004 Tim E. Scronce (IE ’87) President Blue Rhino
	2003 Ross Lampe, Jr. (IE ’77) President SMD Software, Inc.
	2002 Barbara H. Mulkey (CE ’77) CEO Mulkey Engineers & Consultants
	2001 Marshall Brain (CSC ’89) Founder HowStuffWorks