June 8, 2009

Cleveland, OH - The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced today that Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Navy, will give the Association's Keynote Address at the 44th Annual NACDA Convention, which will be held Thursday-Sunday, June 18-21, at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida. The Keynote Address will take place on Saturday, June 20 at 8 a.m.

Admiral Mullen, a 1968 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was sworn in as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 2007. He serves as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council.

He has commanded three ships - the gasoline tanker USS Noxubee (AOG 56), the guided missile destroyer USS Goldsborough (DDG 20) and the guided missile cruiser USS Yorktown (CG 48). As a Flag Officer, he commanded Cruiser-Destroyer Group 2, the George Washington Battle Group and the U.S. 2nd Fleet/NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic.

Admiral Mullen has served in various leadership positions at the Naval Academy, in the Navy's Bureau of Personnel, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and on the Navy Staff.

He is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School and earned a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate school.

Prior to becoming Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen served as the 28th Chief of Naval Operations.

About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 44th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,300 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 11 professional associations that come under the umbrella of the Athletics Director. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.