When FAMU alumnus and Symantec CEO John W. Thompson announced his retirement late last year, reporters speculated that he was preparing for a future on Capitol Hill. Today, the buzz is even louder. Some political insiders say he’s U.S. President Barack Obama’s top choice for secretary of commerce.
Thompson already has a groundswell of support from the FAMU family, led by President James Ammons.
"We're tracking just about every move that he makes while he's in Washington,” he said. ”It is really exciting to have the potential of a Secretary of Commerce of the United States of America being a FAMUan,"
Thompson has led Symantec since 1999. He earned his bachelor’s of business administration from FAMU in 1971. Since graduating, he has continued to support his alma mater by serving as a member of the FAMU Foundation and bringing his company into FAMU's Industry Cluster.
During the recent presidential race, Thompson was a spirited Obama supporter and hosted fundraising events for the candidate at his California home.
Expressions of support for Thompson can be sent to President Obama here.
FAMU alum retires as head of Symantec
I know Dr. Mobley is proud. If Thompson is picked, can you imagine how many more applications will pour into SBI?
ReplyDeleteI really hope he gets the position!
In 1971, the university had not yet instituted SBI. The business department, from which Thompson graduated, was part of the College of Arts and Sciences. SBI did not become a separate institution until a number of years later.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the historical note. The correction has been made.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Dr. Mobley was chair of the Dept. of Business Administration during the time of Thompson's enrollment at the university. (I'm a 1975 graduate of FAMU, so I've got an itsy bitsy rolodex of memory here!)
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