Matthew H. King ’77, a deputy assistant director of Homeland Security Investigations, will speak at commencement this year.

Director of Alumni Relations Mimi Morsman said that Mr. King, who already met with seniors via Pathways 2011, will explain “why his line of work, while tough, is so meaningful.”

After graduating from Wesleyan University and the Columbia School of Law, Mr. King served in the Marine Corps for seven years. During his later tenure under the Special Agent in Charge in San Francisco, Mr. King played a key role in “an undercover investigation that resulted in the largest seizure of foreign automatic weapons in U.S. history.” Last year, he directed a restoration crew in Haiti after the January earthquake. In searching for the 2011 commencement speaker, Ms. Morsman wanted somebody “with a connection to Deerfield, either as an alumnus or as a parent.”

“The commencement speaker provides students with the opportunity to connect with the world beyond the hills,” said Head of School Margarita Curtis. “It reminds graduates that our diplomas are not just tools for self-promotion—they signify a guarantee of a commitment to service and preparation for a life beyond college.”