U.S. Navy officer, Viewpoint grad returns, inspires

Viewpoint School held its commencement for the Class of 2026 on June 6, where alumnus Brenden Rodriquez, Class of 2016, returned to give the keynote address. Rodriquez, who attended Viewpoint from kindergarten through 12th grade, spoke to students, families, faculty, staff, trustees and fellow alumni on the Calabasas campus a decade after his own graduation.

Rodriquez, now a lieutenant and naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy, graduated from Harvard University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering sciences before beginning his military career. He told the audience that coming back to the school was especially meaningful and reflected on how his time at Viewpoint shaped him.

He noted that the school’s focus on trying different things and staying adaptable helped prepare him for leadership roles in the Navy. A native of Agoura Hills, Rodriquez serves as a weapons systems officer with Strike Fighter Squadron 22 (VFA-22) and previously deployed aboard the USS Nimitz in support of operations in the Fifth and Seventh Fleet areas of responsibility.