Clay Johnson III, Assistant to President George W. Bush for Presidential Personnel and Deputy to the Chief of Staff, will deliver the commencement address at Samford University Saturday, May 25.

Johnson will speak during 10 a.m. ceremonies at Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena.

Johnson established and managed a 40-person organization to identify and recruit 500 Senate confirmed officials, 800 Senior Executives, 1200 middle management personnel and 1300 part-time Board and Commission members for the Bush administration.

He was also Executive Director of the Bush-Cheney Presidential Transition team. Johnson was Bush's Chief of Staff when Bush was Governor of Texas.

Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Chief of Navy Chaplains, will deliver the Baccalaureate sermon Friday, May 24, at 8 p.m. in Wright Center at Samford.

A Navy chaplain since 1976, Rear Admiral Black holds degrees from six colleges and universities including Oakwood College in Huntsville. He received the 1995 NAACP Renowned Service Award for his contribution to equal opportunity and civil rights.

Judge Joel F. Dubina of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will speak at commencement for Samford's Cumberland School of Law Saturday, May 25, at 3 p.m. in Wright Center.

A 1973 Cumberland graduate, Judge Dubina has served on the 11th Circuit since 1990. Previously, he served as a U. S. District Judge (1986-90) and U.S. Magistrate (1983-86).

Samford will confer degrees on 812 seniors during commencement weekend.