NEW: Assumption Names 2013 Commencement Speaker

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

GolocalWorcester News Team

Worcester's Assumption College named their commencement speaker for their 2013 graduates -- FBI Agent and '82 Assumption alumni, Richard DesLauriers.

DesLauriers is a special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Division, and will deliver the address at the College’s 96th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 11. During the ceremony, DesLauriers will also receive an honorary degree.

“Richard DesLauriers has made incredibly significant -- and historic -- contributions to public safety,” said Assumption College President Francesco Cesareo. “He has devoted his life to service of his country, and has exemplified the finest values as a leader within the FBI.”

A native of Longmeadow, Mass., he holds a B.A. in politics from Assumption and a J.D. degree from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.

DesLauriers leads more than 500 FBI agents, intelligence analysts and professional support personnel responsible for the investigation of terrorism, espionage and criminal matters in New England. This week, he announced that the FBI has identified the likely suspects in the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. In 2011, DesLauriers announced the arrest of one of the most wanted fugitives in U.S. history, James “Whitey” Bulger, and his longtime companion Catherine Greig.

“Rick has remained very involved with Assumption College. I expect that our graduating seniors and audience members will find inspiration from Rick’s life story and how his Assumption educational formation in the liberal arts and Catholic intellectual tradition has shaped his life and career,” Cesareo said.

DesLauriers joined the FBI in 1987, and has worked in Alabama, New York, Washington, D.C.; and Boston, spending much of his career in counterintelligence. Prior to his 2010 appointment in Boston, he served as deputy assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI Headquarters. He was responsible for nationwide counterintelligence operations and espionage investigations.

DesLauriers served as guest speaker at Assumption’s 2011 Honors Convocation and received the Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Assumption Alumni Association last year. He and wife Christine have a son and reside in southeastern Massachusetts.