New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan, who became a household name during the governor’s daily pandemic press briefings, will deliver the address at the 150th commencement of Centenary University, the school announced.
The graduation will be on May 10.
A member of the governor’s cabinet, Callahan is the 14th colonel of the state’s leading law enforcement agency and was appointed to his current post in 2017. The university will present Callahan with a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, to recognize his many contributions to the state and its residents.
“Col. Callahan is one of New Jersey’s most influential voices, with a message emphasizing that integrity, discipline, and hard work form the foundation for life success,” Centenary President Dale Caldwell said.
“That message is relevant for every member of the Class of 2025, no matter the career path they intend to follow. These are the qualities that define true leaders and make Centenary graduates unbeatable in the job market.”
A familiar face at Centenary, Callahan visits campus annually to address students in a course called Careers in Criminal Justice taught by Douglas Compton, assistant professor of criminal justice.
Compton invites a cadre of criminal justice professionals to discuss current issues in law enforcement and job opportunities in the field. Inspired by Callahan’s presentations, four recent Centenary alumni were among the 124 graduates of the 166th State Police Class last summer.
A native of Budd Lake, Callahan served as the N.J. State Police recovery bureau chief in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and worked with state and federal partners to develop and implement long-term recovery effort strategies.
Callahan also served as the commanding officer of the Emergency Management Section and assistant state director of the Office of Emergency Management. He was the chairman of the Command and Control Subcommittee of the Emergency Management Section when New Jersey hosted Super Bowl XLVIII, working to develop and implement all operations undertaken by the Public Safety Compound.
