June 1, 2017 - Patrick J. Murphy, a 1996 graduate of King’s College, decorated military veteran, attorney, former US Congressman, and, most recently, Under Secretary of the US Army, provided the address at King’s 68th Annual Commencement exercises at which approximately 450 students received either a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
As a student at King’s, Murphy was President of the Student Body and an Army ROTC cadet. He received a bachelor’s degree with majors in psychology and human resources management and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves.
While attending Widener University School of Law, Murphy worked in the office of the Philadelphia District Attorney, was a leader in the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, a legal aid society serving the poor, served as an Army officer in Germany, and served as a legislative aide to a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He received his law degree in 1999.
Beginning in 2000, Murphy was on active duty with the US Army, first serving as a judge advocate and then an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy. Following the 9-11 attacks, he volunteered for overseas deployment, serving in both Bosnia and Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star.
In 2006, Murphy became the first veteran of the Iraq War to be elected to Congress, representing the 8th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. During his two terms, he served on the Armed Services, Select Intelligence, and Appropriations Committees.
Following his time in Congress, Murphy was a national litigation partner for the Philadelphia-based law firm Fox Rothschild LLP. He also co-founded Virtus, LLC, a television production company that produced shows for CBS and MSNBC.
Murphy was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the US Senate as Undersecretary of the Army in 2015. During his year in office, he also assumed the duties as Acting Secretary of the Army for four months.
Murphy was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago and has been an invited lecturer at Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the US Air Force Academy.