BLACKSBURG — Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger removed Virginia Tech Board of Visitors rector John Rocovich from his role on May 27, 2026.

Spanberger accused Rocovich of violating the Code of Conduct for Commonwealth Appointees to Boards, Authorities, & Commissions, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors’ Code of Ethics, and governing statutes requiring board members to act in accordance with the best interests of Virginia Tech. Her letter did not specify the nature of the alleged violations.

Virginia Tech declined to comment on Rocovich’s removal, with spokesperson Mark Owczarski stating, "The governor has informed us of this action. We have no comment."

Rocovich was appointed to the board by former Governor Glenn Youngkin. He previously served on the board from 1997 to 2005 and again from 2010 to 2014. In 2025, the board changed its rules to allow Rocovich a third consecutive term as rector.

As rector, Rocovich stated that Virginia Tech’s next president could be hired by July 2026, a faster timeline than the typical year-long presidential search at public universities. That timeline followed Virginia Tech president Tim Sands’s April 2026 announcement that he would step down after 12 years in the role.

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine alleged that Virginia Tech board members sought to push out President Sands before Governor Spanberger could appoint new board members who might influence the presidential hire. "They were trying to lock in a successor before the new governor could reshape the board," Kaine said.

Spanberger appointed 27 new members to university boards on her first day in office.