Purdue University Selects Jay Silveria as 14th President

Purdue University’s Board of Trustees selected Jay B. Silveria as the school’s 14th president on Thursday.

The vote was unanimous. Silveria will begin his tenure on February 1, 2027. He will succeed Mitch Daniels, who has held the role on an interim basis since July.

Silveria currently serves as the president of the University of Arkansas System. He has held that position since January 2025. The system enrolls more than 80,000 students and employs over 30,000 people. It includes a flagship land-grant research university, a medical sciences campus, regional universities, community colleges, and a law school.

Before joining the University of Arkansas System, Silveria spent four years at Texas A&M University. From 2020 to 2024, he served as associate vice president and executive director of the Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington. His duties included launching a graduate-school enterprise in the capital. This work required coordination among academic leaders, faculty, and outside partners.

His higher education background includes serving as superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy from 2017 to 2020. Purdue noted that this role gave him experience aligning institutional culture and resources around student development. The academy’s mission covers academics, military preparation, athletics, and character development.

Silveria is a retired Air Force lieutenant general who graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1985. He completed pilot training the following year. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 hours in the air. He has flown T-37, T-38, F-15C/E, HH-60, and F-35A aircraft. His combat missions took place over the Balkans and Iraq.

During his military career, he held several command posts. He served as deputy commander of the Combined Air Force Component at U.S. Central Command in Southwest Asia. In that role, he oversaw air operations across a 20-nation area. This included Operations Resolute Support in Afghanistan and Inherent Resolve in 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. He was director of security assistance at the Office of Security Cooperation in Baghdad. He commanded a fighter wing, an air operations center, and a fighter squadron. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, a Bronze Star, and multiple Air Medals.

Gary Lehman, chair of the Purdue Board of Trustees, praised Silveria’s career path. "Jay’s career reflects a consistent commitment to preparing people and organizations to accomplish consequential missions," Lehman said. He noted that Silveria’s strength lies in the combination of his experiences rather than any single position. Lehman stated that the board looks forward to working with Silveria to advance the university’s mission.

Silveria said he is honored to lead a top public research university. "I look forward to meeting the people who make this place so special and to listen and learn about its culture," he said. He emphasized the responsibility of a land-grant research university to use its knowledge and graduates to advance the state and serve society. He plans to support faculty, staff, and researchers while helping students succeed. He aims to connect institutional goals to public value.

Purdue is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities. More than 111,000 students attend the university across its campuses. More than 57,000 students are enrolled at its main campuses in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. The main campus has frozen tuition for 14 consecutive years. This policy supports the university’s commitment to affordability and accessibility. It allows more students to graduate debt-free. Silveria holds a master’s degree in social science from Syracuse University. He also holds master’s degrees from Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama and the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington.