Joseph Vorbach, superintendent of diocesan Catholic schools, is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Marymount University’s College of Health and Education. The award honors a graduate who demonstrates significant accomplishments in their professional life as well as distinguished service to their community, state or nation.
Vorbach has served as superintendent since July 2019, working on behalf of Bishop Michael F. Burbidge to support principals and pastors in 41 diocesan schools that enroll 18,000 students. He previously was head of school and principal at his alma mater, Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington.
Vorbach retired from the U.S. Coast Guard as a commander in 2008, after serving as a faculty member at the Coast Guard Academy from 1995 to 2007. He was also a Department of Homeland Security Chair at National Defense University in Washington. He earned his master’s in education from Marymount in 2013.
Vorbach was to be recognized at the 2023 Halo Awards dinner and ceremony at the Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington Feb. 23. Four others were recognized: Michael D. Smith, Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Sciences and Humanities; David Evinger, Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology; Rita Wong, Distinguished Faculty Award (Faculty Member of the Year); and Edward Bersoff, Saint of Service Award (Outstanding Community Member).
