Thirty-seven years after walking across the stage with a degree in Biological Engineering in hand, Maj. Gen. James Gilman, commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, returned to his alma mater to receive an honorary doctorate in Engineering.

Three leaders in the fields of the life sciences, medicine and motorsports received honorary degrees in engineering during this year's commencement. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology recognized each for their career achievements.

"It was a great honor to receive the honorary doctorate from the undergraduate institution where I went to school and first learned about being an officer in the United States Army, but also a school that is held in such high esteem around the country,' Gilman said.

Rose-Hulman is a small private college specializing in engineering, mathematics, and science. RHIT is highly regarded for its undergraduate engineering program. U.S. News and World Reports ranked the school #1 in the United States of schools where a doctorate degree is not offered in 2011. RHIT has held this position since 2000.

'It was a great school when I was there,' Gilman said 'Going back for the honorary degree presentation gave me a chance to compare the contemporary Rose-Hulman with the one I attended in the 70s. In every way, it's a better school now than it was then.'