Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award
Daniel S. Letter, Eng ’99
Ross, Calif.
Daniel Letter laughs when he thinks back to his confusion on move-in day at McCormick Hall. “It felt like everyone around me had a clear plan and a confident grasp of what was ahead, while I was still trying to understand what I had signed up for,” he recalls. Today, as CEO of Prologis, he sees that long-ago uncertainty as a gift. “It pushed me to work harder, ask questions and grow into the person Marquette helped shape,” he says.
As the leader of a global logistics facilities company, Dan says that no two days are the same. “Every day brings a mix of strategy and relationships, along with a real sense of purpose, and that combination motivates me,” he says. His long-term focus is on continuing to grow Prologis as a purpose-driven company that leads in scale and innovation while staying grounded in its values, including sustainability and service to customers and communities. He aims to live the Marquette mission of excellence, faith, leadership and service. “Marquette taught me that these are not separate ideas,” he says. “Together, they define what it means to lead a meaningful life.”
Outside of work, Dan’s service commitments include coaching his ten-year-old son’s baseball team. It’s a “welcome shift from boardrooms,” he says, “to the fundamentals of teamwork, resilience, humility and finding joy in the game.”
Looking back to his time at Marquette, Dan remembers one defining moment, when he realized that leadership is not about titles, but about service. “Every challenge since then, from market downturns to taking on greater leadership responsibility, has reinforced that lesson,” he says. “Lead with integrity, serve others and keep learning.”
What advice or insights from your own experiences would you share with fellow Marquette alumni or current students?
Stay curious. Embrace discomfort, because it is where growth happens. Find mentors who challenge and believe in you. Remember that your career will evolve, but your integrity and values are constants. The world needs more leaders who listen, care and act with purpose. Be one of them.
Name someone, past or present, with whom you would like to have dinner.
Tom Osborne. His quiet, values-based leadership and ability to build winning teams while prioritizing character and service have always stood out to me. And Steve Jobs. His relentless pursuit of excellence and ability to see what others could not fundamentally changed industries and the way we think about innovation.
