Bio
Rex W. Tillerson served as the nation’s 69th secretary of state from February 2017 to March 2018. Prior to his appointment, he concluded a career spanning more than 41 years in the petroleum industry, retiring as chairman and chief executive officer of ExxonMobil Corp. at the end of 2016.
Tillerson spent his entire career with the corporation, joining Exxon after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He rose through the ranks during a series of domestic and foreign assignments, including serving as president of Exxon Yemen Inc. and Exxon Neftegas Ltd. in Russia. He became president of Exxon Mobil Corp. in 2004 and chairman and CEO in 2006.
In addition to his duties with ExxonMobil, Tillerson has had a longstanding involvement with Scouting America, earning the organization’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, as a youth and later receiving the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He also received the Silver Beaver and Silver Buffalo awards for his service as an adult volunteer. He is a former member of Scouting America’s executive committee and served as national president from 2010 to 2012.
Tillerson is a former member of the American Petroleum Institute and the National Petroleum Council, serving as chairman of both. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2013 and holds an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was named a distinguished alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin in 2007. He formerly served as a trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He was also a member of the Business Roundtable, serving on the executive committee, and a member of the Business Council. In addition, he served as an honorary trustee of the Business Council for International Understanding and was a member of the Emergency Committee for American Trade.
He is a former director of the United Negro College Fund and a former vice chairman of the Ford’s Theatre Society.
Tillerson currently serves on the board of directors for the National Medal of Honor Museum and on the board of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
