Dan King, Vice President of Facilities Management

Dan King is retiring after more than 15 years with Auburn University as the vice president of Facilities Management. His retirement will begin May 1.

King arrived at Auburn in 2008 after serving 28 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, trading the ocean waves for War Eagle and life on the Plains.

“Auburn is full of incredible people,” King said. “The sense of family brings us all together and keeps us together. It is a very special thing that does not exist in too many other places.”

As an officer in the Navy, King gained experience as a senior leader, manager and engineer in charge of the maintenance, construction and operations of large Navy facilities, including serving as the commanding officer of a 2,500-person facility in San Diego.

“I knew some folks in the Navy who had gone to Auburn, and they were very passionate about their love for their alma mater,” he said, “so I thought I would submit my resume for the job in the hopes of getting an interview. Six months later, I had a job offer from Auburn University.”

King brought his extensive facilities management experience to the university where he has led the Facilities Management workforce of more than 450 staff. In this role, he has been responsible for planning, design and construction; utilities; campus services; landscaping, and other maintenance operations that support the university and its goals. 

During his time at Auburn, he oversaw the construction of several hundred projects with a total value of more than $2 billion, shifting the footprint of the university to being more pedestrian friendly and adding world class facilities simultaneously.

King said he feels one of his most important accomplishments is “being able to positively impact the careers and lives of the Facilities Management team.”

“It has been great to see them develop professionally and progress toward reaching their full potential,” he said. “I have also been fortunate to be able to work with exceptional colleagues across campus.”

During retirement, he plans to spend more time with his family.

“I have four grandkids, so I will spend more time with them,” King said. “I plan to focus on my health by walking and biking more. I hope to travel a bit with my wife, Jan. I love to read and learn. I may start a small consulting firm.

“I entertain myself well, so I don’t think I will have any problems shifting to the retired life.”

The university has changed dramatically since he arrived on campus in 2008, but the feelings of the Auburn Family are timeless. Reflecting on his 15 years at Auburn, King said it is the people he will miss the most.

“The people of Auburn made my time here great, and they are what I will miss the most,” King said. “I will miss all the wonderful, talented and hardworking people within Facilities Management. It has been a joy to work with them all these years.”