The 53rd Grand Chapter Conclave honored three alumni with the Sigma Phi Epsilon Citation. This recognition celebrates brothers who achieve uncommon success in their career fields and bring honor to themselves and to the Fraternity. Since it was first presented in 1965, only 244 brothers have received the honor.

Rear Admiral Charles Kubic, Lehigh ’72

Brother Chuck Kubic served a distinguished Navy career with the Engineer Corps from 1972 to 2005 before retiring with the rank of Rear Admiral.

His many military decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious and Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Commendation and Achievement Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense, Vietnam, Armed Forces and Humanitarian Service medals.

Leading up to the invasion of Iraq, Kubic supported fellow SigEp Citation Recipient Marine Lieutenant General James Conway, Southeast Missouri State ’69, in the deepest penetrating ground operation in Marine Corps history.

Brother Kubic co-wrote the book Bridges to Baghdad: The U.S. Navy Seabees in the Iraq War and currently serves as president of the Kubic Engineer Group.

Bob Eckert, Arizona ’76

Brother Eckert was recognized for the acclaimed leadership and direction he provided to such companies as Kraft Foods and Mattel.

Some of Eckert’s accomplishments include introducing new varieties of the Lunchable at Kraft and leading Mattel to a 57 percent increase in stock value over two years, a company that was later named one of the top 100 companies to work for in Forbes magazine. In 2002, he was recognized as one of the top 25 Managers of the Year by Business Week magazine. Other awards include the Corporate Leadership Award from the School of American Ballet and the Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, University of Arizona – Eller College.

Retired from Mattel, Eckert now serves on the McDonald’s Corporation Board of Directors, the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management Advisory Board at Northwestern University, the Board of Visitors at The Anderson School at UCLA, The Trilateral Commission, the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, the Board of Directors of the Business Council in Washington, D.C., and as a member of the Asia Society and the World Presidents’ Organization in Los Angeles.

Doug Band, Florida ’95

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said, “I couldn’t have achieved half of what I have in my post presidency without Doug Band.” Brother Band started his career in the White House Counsel’s office where he worked for four years before moving to the White House as aide to the president.

Throughout his career he has visited 125 countries, including North Korea in 2009, when he accompanied the president to orchestrate the release of two American journalists.

Band was instrumental in starting the Clinton Global Initiative, which Clinton credits him for conceiving. A non-partisan organization that brings global leaders together to solve the world’s problems, the CGI has helped raise more than $69 billion for 2,100 philanthropic initiatives around the world. The organization has impacted more than 400 million people in 180 countries.

Band currently serves as president of Teneo Holdings, a world-wide strategic communications, investment banking, management consulting, financial strategy, business intelligence and restructuring expertise firm. He also continues to serve on the board of the CGI.