Former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Defense Gordon England has been chosen as the first recipient of the Bob Bolen Civic Leadership Award by the Neeley School of Business at TCU. The Neeley School created the awards, named for former Fort Worth mayor and longtime civic leader Bob Bolen, to honor a civic or corporate leader of national stature for his or her contributions to the building and stewardship of our communities and nation. England accepted the award from Dean O. Homer Erekson on May 12 at a dinner kicking off the Neeley School’s 75th anniversary in 2013. Prior to presenting the award, Erekson read a letter from former President George W. Bush commending England on the honor.
 
Currently, Gordon England is President of E6 Partners LLC, a partnership that assists both U.S. and international companies with due diligence, management strategy and regulatory clearance of merger and acquisition deals. In 2001 England was nominated by former President Bush to serve as 72nd Secretary of Navy. In 2003 he assumed the responsibilities as Deputy Secretary for Homeland Defense. Previously England was executive vice president of General Dynamics Corporation from 1997 until 2001 responsible for Information Systems and International. He also served as executive vice president of the Combat Systems Group, president of General Dynamics Fort Worth aircraft company (later Lockheed), president of General Dynamics Land Systems, and principal of a mergers and acquisition consulting company.
 
A native of Baltimore, he graduated from the University of Maryland in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. In 1975 he earned a master's degree in business administration from the Neeley School of Business at TCU.
 
England has served on the Defense Science Board and chaired and participated in a broad range of subjects dealing with the U.S. military and the industrial base. He has been actively involved in a variety of civic and charitable organizations including Goodwill International where he served as vice chairman of the board of directors, the USO's board of governors, and as a member of the board of visitors at TCU and other universities.
 
In his letter, former President Bush lauded England for streamlining maritime forces and improving the ability to meet the new threats of the 21st century; helping implement the largest reorganization of the Federal government since the Cold War to better protect citizens from further attacks; and managing the Pentagon during a time of consequence for America. “I appreciate Texas Christian University and the Neeley School of Business for recognizing a good man tonight. I applaud you on 75 years of success. And I thank you for your commitment to our community and to the future of our country.”
 
Dean Erekson said: “The Neeley School is pleased to create and name an award after a man whom we all respect very much. Mayor Bolen, as we will always refer to him, is a man who epitomizes the spirit of entrepreneurship and appreciates the importance of partnerships between the private and public sectors. And if you ever attend a meeting with Bob, you know that he knows everyone in Fort Worth and everyone admires him for being someone who always seems to leave things a little better than he found them.”