Speaker delivers energizing Commencement address

On Sunday, May 19, Tufts alumnus Dr. Reginald Brothers, E81, spoke at the Tufts University School of Engineering Phase II Commencement Ceremony. He delivered remarks on the transformative power of engineering, speaking to graduating seniors from the School of Engineering and their friends and families.

For his speech, Dr. Brothers drew on his experience across more than 30 years in the technology and government services industries, including positions as a CEO and CTO, and his current role as operating partner at AE Industrial. He encouraged listeners to get up and learn from the experience after being knocked down, to find mentors who support them, and to speak up for themselves. He also reminded graduates to think outside their comfort zones and assemble diverse teams that cross disciplinary boundaries. 

“It is absolutely essential to deeply understand your users' needs through direct communication, iteration, and collaboration, to create not just inventions that are novel and interesting, but innovations which make an impact,” said Dr. Brothers.

Following Dr. Brothers’ speech, Dean Kyongbum Lee presented him with a Tufts School of Engineering Dean’s Medal. The Deal’s Medal is one of four types of medals that Tufts University awards, and is the only medal awarded by deans of the individual schools within Tufts. It recognizes exceptional service to Tufts School of Engineering and outstanding professional achievement.

Prior to joining AE Industrial, Dr. Brothers served as the CEO of BigBear.ai, a company focused on data management, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, and cybersecurity for government and businesses. He previously served as Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the US Department of Homeland Security and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research at the Department of Defense. 

Dr. Brothers has been awarded five patents and numerous awards, including twice winning the Washington 100 CEO award, the NASA Silver Medal Group Achievement award, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. He holds a BS from Tufts University, an MS from Southern Methodist University, and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all in electrical engineering.