2024 DMC Spring Commencement KeynoteCommencement speaker Roderick “Rod” Benson, Deputy and Chief Operations Officer with the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), will share his own words of wisdom prior to the College’s newest graduating class embarking on their next journey. In his role, Benson brings over 30 years of leadership experience to CCAD. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography, he also possesses a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. Throughout his distinguished military career, Benson served in various leadership positions that included campaigns and deployments to Haiti, Operation Southern Watch, Northern Edge and Iraqi Freedom. Benson then leveraged this expertise in the private sector and led key initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies. He joined the Corpus Christi Army Depot in 2006 and quickly rose through the ranks to eventually become the Senior Civilian Leader of this billion-dollar organization and one of the economic engines of the Coastal Bend. His experience in the private sector––including companies such as Abbott Laboratories, where he served as Director of Engineering Operations for Global Engineering and then Site Director in Puerto Rico––has since been instrumental in driving operational efficiency at CCAD and its contribution to the National Defense Strategy. Benson’s dedication and leadership are evident in his accomplishments and awards, including the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.