Roger Linquist

Roger Linquist graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering in 1961 and 1963, respectively. He was deeply intrigued by cellular communications and shaped an extraordinary career in this field. In 1988, he founded PageMart Wireless and assumed the roles of chief executive officer and, later, chairman. Five years afterward, Linquist co-founded MetroPCS Communications, which he expanded into a company with 24,000 employees. In 2013, Linquist orchestrated the merger of MetroPCS with T-Mobile, resulting in the sixth-largest wireless company in the world, with more than 100 million customers. Purdue recognized Linquist with a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 2015.