Photo courtesy of Aurora Innovation
Every year, the Texas Exes honor alumni of The University of Texas at Austin, age 39 and younger, for “significant achievements in their careers and service to the university.” And every year, chances are good an extraordinary young alum of Texas Law will be among the shortlist of honorees. It has happened again with the 2020 Awards, as Gerardo Interiano ’06 has been named an Outstanding Young Alumnus award winner.
He is the 25th Texas Law alumni to be so honored since the OYTEX Award was introduced in 1980.
Interiano, who serves as Head of Government Relations for Aurora Innovation, is based in Pittsburgh, PA, having previously worked in Washington, D.C. and in Austin, where he was part of Google’s self-driving technology division. While here in the heart of the so-called Silicon Hills, he served as the head of Google’s external affairs in Texas, Kansas, and Missouri, helping launch Google Fiber and Waymo. Previously, he held senior roles with U.S. Congressman Lamar Smith, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus.
A 2016 profile described the polymath as “equal parts political scientist, tech guru, and futurist.” As Head of Government Relations for Aurora Innovation, Interiano works every day to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely without inhibiting technological innovation. He collaborates on the federal, state, and local levels, and connects with community groups to ask the right questions, address concerns head-on, and construct the future’s ‘rules of the road.’
“Gerardo is an exceptional alumnus who brings honor to The University of Texas and to the School of Law,” said Texas Exes Executive Director Chuck Harris. “It’s my deep pleasure that we’re able to honor him.”
Dean Ward Farnsworth noted, “We love it when people take the university’s motto so literally. The work Gerardo is doing, first with Google, and now with Aurora, is truly changing the world in profound ways. And we’re grateful that he’s stayed involved with his alma mater all along his professional journey. He’s an involved and engaged alumnus—and a great guy. All I want to say to Gerardo for the moment is, ‘Hook ’em!'”
The 2020 OYTEX recipients will be honored in a virtual event on October 27 by a group of luminaries, led by Texas Exes Board President Bob Estrada (Texas Law ’83). The event will be shared with the broader U.T. community at a later date.
Read all about the 2020 OYTEX slate at texasexes.org/about-us/awards/outstanding-young-texas-ex-award.