Ten years after graduating from George Mason University, Horace Blackman, BA English ’93, returned to campus—and he was lost.
Struck by the university’s enrollment growth and campus additions since he graduated in 1993 with his bachelor’s degree in English and American Studies, Blackman knew he wanted to be a part of the change.
“There is no other place I’ve been where you can get involved, have an impact, and watch as the transformation happens,” said Blackman, a first-generation college graduate. “The growth and transformation happening at George Mason is also transforming our community and the Commonwealth.”
Blackman’s perspective comes from his long-standing career in government contracting and his expertise in translating technical challenges into human-centered solutions and helping organizations navigate large-scale digital transformations.
“George Mason showed me that solving complex problems starts with understanding people.”
In April 2025 he was named the president of NTT Data Federal, a business and technology services firm based in Herndon, Virginia. Blackman also has an established history of giving back to George Mason. He was appointed to Gerge Mason’s Board of Visitors, serving for more than eight years, including his role as rector from 2022 to 2024. Blackman currently volunteers as a member of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Advisory Board.
“I started out this journey with a degree in English from George Mason University, and I’m still that person,” he said. “Being able to help other people who are coming along the same journey is only fitting. I give back because of everything that’s been given to me.”
What did your George Mason experience make possible for you?
It helped me build a career in Northern Virginia—one that has taken me to more than 80 countries and into influential fields such as defense, new media, and the internet. It also set me on a path to eventually serve on George Mason’s Board of Visitors and later become rector for the university.
In what ways do you use your education to make a real world impact?
The impact of my education has translated into my ability to build a career, give back, make a difference, and help other people who are coming along the same journey that I experienced. For me, this means mentoring. It’s also coaching and returning to campus—recruiting George Mason students. I see impact as being part of the community and really understanding the role George Mason has had in helping to transform what we see today.
How do you apply storytelling in business or governance?
The idea of how you apply storytelling in businesses is an interesting one, because I’m kind of known as a storyteller. I think if you can translate anything—no matter how complicated it is—to the salient points, then you can tell that as a story. Stories are some of the most powerful ways to communicate in our language and in business.
Every great company starts with a story, whether it’s Bill Gates starting a business in his garage or Philip Knight starting Nike by selling shoes out of the trunk of his car. Every great business has a story. What makes these companies powerful is the ability to take that story and translate it into something impactful.
What advice do you have for current students who are preparing for a career in your field of study?
Focus on the basics. It’s the basics that will help you, especially as technologies change. Communication skills will help you 30 years from now, along with critical thinking and reasoning skills. These are the basics that will help you out of any situation you find yourself in.