AUM dedicates Alumni Garden bench to retired Brig. Gen. Terrence Adams
When Terrence Adams left Auburn University at Montgomery with a computer information systems degree in 1994, he was preparing for a new chapter in military service. More than three decades later, the retired Air Force brigadier general has a permanent place on the campus where that chapter began.
AUM recently dedicated a bench in Adams’ honor in its Alumni Garden, recognizing his outstanding 39-year military career and the impact he made in his time on campus.
“General Adams’ story began long before he came to AUM, and it reaches far beyond his military career,” said Chancellor Carl A. Stockton. “He has led at the highest levels without losing sight of the people who helped him get there. Every student who passes this bench will see his name. I hope they also see a reminder that their own journey can take them further than they imagine, and that success carries a responsibility to open doors for others.”
Adams pursued his degree at AUM while participating in Air Force ROTC through Alabama State University. By the time he walked across the graduation stage, he had already served six years as an enlisted soldier in the Army. After graduation, he received his commission as an Air Force officer.
Over his illustrious military career, Adams commanded units at the squadron, group and wing levels, including the 628th Air Base Wing and Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina. He served in assignments in Oman, Iraq and Qatar, and later became the Air Force’s director of cyberspace operations and warfighter communications.
Adams concluded his career as deputy principal cyber advisor and senior military advisor for cyber policy at the Pentagon, helping coordinate military and civilian cyber activities.
“AUM gave me more than the foundation for a career,” said Adams. “The people I met here helped me grow as a student and stayed connected to me as I grew as a leader. I hope this bench reminds students to build those relationships, seize every opportunity and, when they’re able, help someone else move forward.”
Beyond his commands and assignments, Adams’ influence reaches well past the military.
Adams has mentored more than 5,000 students in fields including cybersecurity, aviation, science and technology, sharing his leadership principles: “Listen, Lift, Love.”
He has also returned to AUM to speak with students and the campus community. Adams was the featured speaker at the university’s 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Reflections Breakfast and delivered AUM’s spring 2024 commencement address, when he told graduates their “job is to make the world a better place.”
“I would also like to express an immense amount of gratitude for my dear friend Pam Dorsey,” Adams said. “Her support and leadership were essential to bringing this project to life, and I am forever grateful for her.”
“The Alumni Garden celebrates the lasting connection between those who once called AUM home and the students who are creating their own AUM stories today,” said Eve Rhea, associate vice chancellor for advancement. “General Adams’ bench honors not only his accomplishments as an alumnus, but also the leadership, service and mentorship he has shared with others throughout his life.”
Visitors to the AUM Alumni Garden can pause for rest and reflection on the bench bearing Adams’ name and the words: “If we sit together to learn the depths of our cultures, with love, we shall rise stronger as guardians of one another and authors of a more perfect Union.”
Adams’ story offers visitors something to take with them when they leave: an example of where service, education and a willingness to help others can lead.
About the AUM Alumni Garden
The AUM Alumni Garden at Auburn University at Montgomery provides a welcoming space for reflection and connection while celebrating the lasting contributions of alumni to the university community. Dedicated benches, trees and stone pavers honor alumni, friends and loved ones, preserving their legacies on campus. The garden connects generations of Warhawks through shared memories and the enduring impact of an AUM education. To learn more, visit AUM Alumni Garden.
