Rex Wayne Tillerson (born March 23, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas) is an American engineer, business executive, and former diplomat. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 and began his career that year with Exxon Company U.S.A., a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, starting as a civil engineer. Over more than four decades, he advanced through various roles in production, exploration, and management, eventually becoming chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil from 2006 to 2016, overseeing significant global operations in the energy sector. In 2017, Tillerson was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the 69th United States Secretary of State, a position he held from February 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. Bringing extensive corporate experience to foreign policy, he emphasized commercial diplomacy and restructuring the State Department during his tenure, which was marked by tensions with the White House and disagreements on issues such as the Paris Climate Agreement and Russia policy. He was dismissed in March 2018 and succeeded by Mike Pompeo. After leaving government service, Tillerson largely returned to private life, occasionally commenting on global affairs and engaging in philanthropy, including serving on the board of the National Bureau of Asian Research. His career exemplifies the intersection of big business and high-level government service, notably without prior political or military experience before his Cabinet role.