Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was 2007 North Central College Commencement speaker

Newly appointed Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was the 2007 Commencement speaker at North Central College.

Hagel was sworn in on Feb. 27 as the nation’s 24th defense secretary, one day after the Senate voted 58-41 to approve his appointment by President Barack Obama.

Hagel spoke at North Central College’s 142nd Commencement ceremony on June 9, 2007, when he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. Hagel was a U.S. Senator representing Nebraska at the time. A North Central College alumnus, T.J. Birkel ’04, served as a senior staff member to Senator Hagel.