Stanford GSB will present the 2026 Jack McDonald Military Service Appreciation Award to Andreas Halvorsen, MBA ’90, on May 6, 2026, for his commitment to and generous support of military veterans at Stanford and the GSB.
2026 Honoree
Andreas Halvorsen, MBA ’90
About Andreas Halvorsen
Mr. Halvorsen is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Viking Global Investors, a global investment firm founded in 1999 that focuses on long-term, fundamentals-driven investments in public equities worldwide. Prior to founding Viking, he served as a senior managing director and portfolio manager at Tiger Management.
Born in Norway, Mr. Halvorsen earned his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is widely recognized as a member of the “Tiger Cub” network of investors and is known for his disciplined investment approach and thoughtful leadership. In addition to his professional work, Mr. Halvorsen is active in philanthropy, with a particular focus on education and health initiatives, and has been a strong supporter of Stanford University.
Mr. Halvorsen’s career reflects a sustained commitment to leadership, service, and excellence, making him a fitting recipient of this year’s Military Service Appreciation Award.
2026 Keynote Speaker
Trond Gimmingsrud
About Trond Gimmingsrud
Born in Sarpsborg, Norway, Commodore Gimmingsrud currently serves on the Norwegian Defence Staff, where he holds responsibility for financial planning and analysis. His career reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence, strategic leadership, and international defense collaboration.
Commodore Gimmingsrud began his naval career in logistics and finance, with early service in the clearance diver team, the submarine squadron, and mine countermeasure vessels. In 2000, he was selected as a marinejeger, joining Norway’s naval special operations forces, where he went on to serve in a range of operational and leadership roles within the Norwegian Naval Special Operations Commando (MJK).
From 2015 to 2017, Commodore Gimmingsrud served as an exchange officer with U.S. Special Operations Command, contributing to both operational planning and interoperability efforts. He later served in the strategic plans section of the Norwegian Defence Staff and as a project manager on the Fleet staff. He commanded the Norwegian Naval Special Operations Commando from 2018 to 2020 and subsequently served as Commander of the Norwegian Fleet from 2021 to 2024.
Award Recipients
| 2026 | Andreas Halvorsen, MBA ’90 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | John K. Hurley, MBA ’93 |
| 2024 | Keith Hennessey, BAS ’90 |
| 2023 | Scott J. Brady, MS ’00 |
| 2022 | Dr. Melody McDonald |
| 2021 | Paul (Lew) Davies III, BS ’83, MBA ’87 |
| 2020 | Canceled |
| 2019 | Paul Scherf (Hank), MBA ’81 |
| 2018 | Zoe Dunning, MBA ’93 |
| 2017 | Linda Huber, MBA ’86 |
| 2016 | Timothy P. Sullivan, MBA ’89 |
| 2015 | Bret Comolli, MBA ’89 |
| 2014 | Steven A. Denning, MBA ’78 |
| 2013 | George P. Shultz Former Secretary of State |
| 2012 | Les Denend, MBA ’73, PhD ’77 |
| 2011 | Paul “Bud” Bucha, MBA ’67 |
| 2010 | Charles O’Reilly |
| 2009 | Jack McDonald, MBA ’62 |
About the Dinner and Award
Hosted by Stanford GSB Veterans Club, the Jack McDonald Military Service Appreciation Award dinner unites the Stanford community and honors the outstanding contributions, courage, and commitment of past and present service members around the world.
This award recognizes a person who has served in the military, has an extraordinary track record of leadership, and is an example of outstanding achievement in business or business education.