Capitol College Announces 2011 Commencement Speaker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kyle Anderson Marketing & Communications Coordinator 301-369-2800, ext. 3015 kdanderson@capitol-college.edu

NASA Mission Manager and Mission Director Julio Marius Announced as 2011 Commencement Speaker

LAUREL, Md. (April 21, 2011) – Capitol College is pleased to announce that NASA mission manager and mission director Julio Marius will offer the Commencement address for the graduating class of 2011 on Saturday May 14, at 9:45 a.m.

“We are delighted to have Mr. Julio Marius as our Commencement speaker,” Dr. Michael Wood, president, said. “Through a long and wide-ranging career at NASA Goddard, he has supported the aspirations of our students and those at other colleges and universities.”

Marius has worked at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center since 1974 and has held various engineering positions throughout those 37 years. During his career at Goddard, he has designed and implemented mission operations ground systems for Goddard supported missions, such as the Hubble Space Telescope. Marius is the recipient of the distinguished NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, for his work with the Hubble telescope.

Marius is also involved with TRMM (Tropical Rainforest Measurement Mission), which is an undertaking that has Capitol Space Operations Institute students working with professionals at Goddard Space Flight Center to track the water cycle in tropical and semi-tropical areas. As the TRMM mission operations director, Marius has worked closely with Capitol students, and has helped train the next class of NASA engineers. His work with the Space Operations Institute has spanned seven years.

“Mr. Marius, as he describes himself, is ‘all about education,’” Wood said. “We are proud to honor him at our 2011 Commencement ceremony.”

At the 2011 Commencement ceremony, Capitol will award over 200 degrees to its student body which comprises many first-generation college students. Capitol graduates consistently enjoy a strong demand for their skills in both the public and private sectors. NASA and the NSA are two of the largest employers of Capitol graduates.

Capitol College is the only independent college in Maryland dedicated to education in engineering, computer science, information technology and business through practices of leadership and innovation. Founded in 1927, Capitol offers associate, bachelor’s and master's degrees, a doctor of science in information assurance, professional development training and certificates. Academic programs are grounded in centers of excellence; these include the Space Operations Institute, the Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Protection Center, the Innovation and Leadership Institute, and the Center for Space Science Education and Public Outreach. The college campus is located in Laurel, Maryland, a suburban setting midway between Baltimore and Washington, DC. www.capitol-college.edu.

###