2012 Outstanding Young Alumni Award Recipient Special Agent Larry M. Hake '87, M'96

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award, established in 1986, is given for outstanding professional performance, achievements and leadership to those who have graduated in the last 25 years.  Hake earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration in 1987 and was involved in many organizations during his time at Mansfield including the varsity wrestling team, ROTC, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Fraternity, Student Senate, and was the student member of the MU Council of Trustees. He graduated with honors, was named the Outstanding Senior in the Criminal Justice program and was the recipient of the 1987 Outstanding Senior Award.

Hake served as a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration in New York City and then returned to Mansfield and earned a Master's in Education in 1996.  After working in probation and parole, Hake worked as a Special Agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms before transferring to the US Department of State where he is currently employed as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service. 

Special Agent Hake's career in Federal Law Enforcement has taken him to many countries including Ecuador, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Botswana, Colombia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.  He has worked with and taught law enforcement officials from more than 50 countries and almost every US state in disciplines such as firearms instruction, explosives/counter-terrorism investigation techniques and dignitary protection.

Hake’s work in Iraq helped save lives and led to numerous arrests by using recovered bomb fragments to identify and shut down a bomb factory which targeted both civilians and the military. In Afghanistan, he worked with the Laghman Provincial Government to establish a uniform legal system.  His efforts enhanced relations between the Provincial Government, National Government and US agencies and improved the lives of young Afghan girls, who are often forced into marriage and denied basic educational opportunities. While serving in Libya, Hake was responsible for protecting the US Special Envoy and other US and United Nations officials as they met with revolutionary groups.

When not working abroad, Hake investigates crimes such as human trafficking, passport fraud, identity theft and terrorism.  He lives in Texas with his wife Siren Solheim Hake '00.