USU's new executive director of alumni relations brings a wealth of management experience to his position. Wallace S. Odd II '69 '71MS has been a U.S. Air Force officer, White House official and corporate executive.

The top pick among 70 applicants from across the country, Odd earned high marks from the search committee chaired by Dennis L. Sessions '70 '71MBA, former president of the alumni association. Sessions says the committee was not only impressed with Odd's leadership ability but his people skills and warmth.

Concurring with Sessions, Kellie Schulz Wood '81, president of USU's Alumni Association, also commented on Odd's vision for alumni outreach. "He would like to get alumni involved at younger ages and educate them while they're still students about the importance of staying connected and supporting the needs of the university." His affinity for younger generations comes naturally; daughter Julianne graduated from USU in May.

Before he had moved into his office on the second floor of the historic David B. Haight Alumni Center, Odd already had lots of ideas about how to engage alumni in the university today as financial supporters and volunteers. But the vision will not be his exclusively. "Growing up in Logan, I had a foster Japanese brother, whose culture valued satori, instant enlightenment or insight. I had a foster Native-American brother, who had a similar word - natahi, a great seeing. That can't be done individually. To create a vision, we have to use the hearts and minds of many alumni."

As an undergraduate at Utah State, Odd majored in political science. He was a student Senate officer, fraternity president and member of the ROTC Arnold Air Society, and he helped form a singing group, the Youngtimers, which toured Vietnam with the USO and entertained the troops during the war.

After completing his master's degree in educational administration, Odd entered the U.S. Air Force, eventually serving as squadron commander and as chief of the Strategic Air Defense Branch at the Pentagon. On his retirement from the military, he became a senior policy analyst for the Office of National Drug Control Policy on the White House staff of President George H.W. Bush. His government service was followed by a career in the private sector. He held a number of leadership positions with federal government contractors.

Vice President for University Advancement Scott Mietchen says the university and alumni association will both be well-served by Odd's background in strategic planning, team building, and program, financial and personnel management.

Odd replaces outgoing Alumni Association Executive Director Carlos Smith who retired in April.