Ronald V. Hite

 

Lieutenant General (Retired)

Ronald V. Hite

A native of Washington County, General Ronald Hite is a member of the East Tennessee State University Class of 1964, and was commissioned that year as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. His outstanding performance as an ROTC Cadet also earned him recognition as a Distinguished Military Graduate. In 1974, he earned a Master’s Degree in Management Science from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Following attendance at the Infantry Officers Basic Course, Airborne and Ranger Schools, General Hite served our nation for 33 distinguished years, commanding at virtually every level and holding many unique positions during assignments throughout the United States and oversees. Among his many accomplishments, he was selected to be the first commander of the Army’s Combat Systems Test Activity in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; he was also responsible for the development of the Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and several major weapons systems. In his last assignment, he served as the Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition, providing testimony before the House and Senate Defense Committees and directing the Army’s Acquisition Corps.

Currently, General Hite is the president and CEO of Cypress International, an Alexandria, Va.-based company which assists clients in planning, business development, and marketing of defense and aerospace products and services worldwide. He also remains an extremely active supporter of ETSU and serves in many capacities, positively impacting current students and alumni alike through his efforts.