Retired Air Force general to lead Purdue University starting 2027

Purdue University’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday to elect Jay B. Silveria as the institution's 14th president. The retired Air Force lieutenant general currently serves as the president of the University of Arkansas System. He will officially take over as Purdue’s leader on February 1, 2027. Mitch Daniels, who has served as interim president since July, will step down to be succeeded by Silveria.

Silveria began his role leading the University of Arkansas System in January 2025. Before that appointment, he worked from 2020 to 2024 as the associate vice president and executive director at Texas A&M University. In that position, he also led the Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington. From 2017 to 2020, he held the post of superintendent at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Gary Lehman, the chair of the Purdue Board of Trustees, stated that Silveria’s career demonstrates a steady commitment to preparing organizations for major missions. Lehman noted that Silveria’s strengths come from a combination of experiences rather than any single job. The board expressed excitement about welcoming Silveria to help advance the university’s mission.

The University of Arkansas System, where Silveria currently works, enrolls more than 80,000 students and employs more than 30,000 people. The system includes a flagship research university, a medical sciences campus, regional universities, community colleges, a law school, and various public-service divisions. Silveria’s role required him to balance the different missions of these institutions while pursuing shared goals. The system’s strategic priorities focus on access, student success, innovation, and statewide collaboration.

Silveria said he is honored to lead Purdue, which he described as a top public research university. He acknowledged the school’s reputation for affordability, ingenuity, and integrity. He said he looks forward to meeting the people at the university to learn about its culture. He emphasized that Purdue’s land-grant mission requires it to use its research and graduates to serve society and advance the state of Indiana.

During his time at Texas A&M, Silveria was responsible for launching a graduate-school enterprise in Washington. That work involved coordinating with academic leaders, faculty, administrators, and outside partners. As superintendent of the Air Force Academy, he led an institution focused on academics, military preparation, athletics, and character development. Purdue said this background gives him experience in aligning university resources around student development.

In his military career, Silveria served as deputy commander of the Combined Air Force Component at U.S. Central Command in Southwest Asia. He oversaw air operations across an area covering 20 nations. He commanded operations during missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. He also commanded the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He served as vice commander of the 14th Air Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Additionally, he was director of security assistance at the Office of Security Cooperation in Baghdad, Iraq. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, a Bronze Star, and multiple Air Medals.

Silveria grew up in an Air Force family and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1985. He completed pilot training in 1986 and is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flight hours. He has flown T-37, T-38, F-15C/E, HH-60, and F-35A aircraft. He has flown combat missions over the Balkans and Iraq. He holds a master’s degree in social science from Syracuse University. He also earned master’s degrees from Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base and the National War College in Washington.

Purdue University ranks among the top 10 public universities in the nation, according to the school. More than 111,000 students attend Purdue across its various campuses. More than 57,000 of those students are enrolled at the main campuses in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. The university’s main campus has frozen tuition for 14 consecutive years. The school said this policy supports its commitment to affordability and helps more students graduate without debt.