Hurd Recognized by Texas A&M College of Engineering as 2019 Outstanding Alumni

I was recognized by the Texas A&M University Dwight College of Engineering as a recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award. I am a proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of ’99, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and minor in international studies.

“The Texas A&M University Outstanding Engineering Alumni honorees are among the most respected global leaders in engineering and other high impact professions. Throughout his career, Congressman Will Hurd has leveraged his innate comprehension of complex technical systems to serve in leadership roles where he embodied a commitment to serving the greater good,” said Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Texas A&M Engineering Vice Chancellor and Dean.“He is a strong testament to what it means to be an Aggie engineer and provides the kind of role model to which our students aspire.”

Humbled to be recognized by my alma mater, I gave the following remarks after receiving this award:

Howdy everyone, I’m Congressman Will Hurd, Representative of the 23rd Congressional District of Texas, and a proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of ’99. I am sorry I can’t join y’all in person to celebrate and share Ol’ Army stories, but I wanted to be sure to express a humble thank you to Dean Banks and to the Dwight College of Engineering for thinking of me for this tremendous honor.

I mean it wholeheartedly each time I say that my time at Texas A&M forever impacted my life. I took interesting classes from inspiring and challenging professors who taught me to work hard, think critically and ask questions. As I’m sure many of you can relate, when leaving high school I was interested in math, computers and robotics, and after my time at A&M felt fully prepared to take on the challenges of the 21st Century.

At the same time, what was equally as important as my Computer Science degree was the ‘Other Education’ at the University. From the moment I first stepped on campus, I could feel the Aggie Spirit, and I continued to experience this spirit of optimism, of loyalty, of selfless service and so much more throughout my time in College Station. It’s why I stayed involved in the Memorial Student Center. It’s why I ran for Student Body President. It’s why I spent more than a decade serving our country in the CIA. It’s why I ran for Congress, and have been able to get through the partisan gridlock you see in the news, and work together with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to shape national security and technology discussions while fixing problems to improve the lives of South and West Texans I represent.

Thank you to the College of Engineering for including me in today’s prestigious award, but more importantly for your work educating today’s students and future leaders. The world can be a turbulent place and needs creative problem solvers who can respond quickly to today’s problems and keep Americans safe for generations to come. Thank you, God Bless these United States of America, and Gig ‘em.