DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Brian J. Truskowski, Eng ’81 u
Ridgefield, CT
From the first time he touched a keyboard in high school, Brian Truskowski has had a passion for computers and engineering. Forty years later, that passion led to a rewarding career that saw him travel the world, serve as IBM’s CIO, be appointed to the U.S. President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and mentor to Marquette students.
Brian recently retired from IBM, where he spent his entire 39-plus year career. Most recently, he was vice president of enterprise & technology security, responsible for protecting IBM and IBM’s clients from cybersecurity events. He has served as an E-Lead Shadow Host and is a past member of the College of Engineering National Advisory Council.
Growing up in rural Wisconsin, the eldest of five children with two working parents, Brian never thought much about what success meant to him. “For us simply getting a college degree was success,” he says. In addition to his Marquette degree, he holds an MBA from Winona State and an MS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We were the first generation in our family to do so. Later in life, success was defined by being confident yet authentic, and always doing your best at work, with family and in the eyes of God,” he says.
Looking back on his college days, Brian thinks Marquette really challenged him. “I found opportunities to grow my faith and develop my talent as well as a place to make life-long friends. Marquette exposed me to mind-opening diversity, a focus on service to others, a true sense of community, and the importance of our Catholic faith in our everyday lives,” he says.
What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
I have three Marquette memories that I think about often: 1) Thursday evening mass in St. Joan of Arc Chapel. 2) The camaraderie of the residence staff at McCormick Hall and across campus. 3) Marquette basketball games (of course).
u Celebrating their Marquette Reunion
Leave a congratulatory message for Brian!