Louis Freeh, former U.S. District Judge and director of the FBI, will deliver the main address at the LSU Law Center’s 2017 Commencement ceremony, scheduled for Friday, June 2, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
“We’re honored and excited to have such an important national figure to serve as this year’s Commencement speaker,” Dean Tom Galligan said.
Freeh was appointed as the fifth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in September 1993 by President Bill Clinton. During his tenure, Freeh handled a number of high-profile cases in the FBI, including the Oklahoma City bombing, the Montana Freemen standoff and the capture of the Unabomber.
Freeh began his career as an FBI agent in 1975. As a Special Agent, he was assigned to the New York City Field Division, and later at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Freeh served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps.
In 1981, Freeh joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as an Assistant United States Attorney, later serving as Associate and Deputy United States Attorney. In 1991, Freeh was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.
Following his tenure as FBI director in June 2001, Freeh joined MBNA America Bank in Delaware as vice‑chairman and general counsel. Currently, he is a founder and partner of Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP a Washington, D.C., law firm, established in 2007. He is also founder of the consulting firm Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC, also established in 2007.
Freeh graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers College in 1971, Rutgers School of Law in 1974 and New York University School of Law in 1984 (L.L.M).
Past Commencement speakers of the LSU Law Center include Louisiana Governors John Bel Edwards and Mike Foster, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Former U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston and political commentator James Carville, among others.
The LSU Law Center’s Commencement ceremonies will take place on Friday, June 2, at 10 a.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. For more information, visit law.lsu.edu/commencement.
