Rodney Adkins

Rodney C. "Rod" Adkins (born August 23, 1958) is an electrical engineer, philanthropist and American business executive. He was a leader in solutions ranging from mobile devices to the world's largest supercomputers at International Business Machines (IBM). He currently holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors at Avnet. and W. W. Grainger.

His career includes extensive experience in emerging technologies, global business operations, product development, brand management In 2007 he was appointed to the position of IBM Corporate Officer and Senior Vice President, the first African American to hold this position. and helping to pioneer what became IBM's portfolio of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.

Adkins has also been an active philanthropist throughout his career including Founding Donor of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and donor of the Rosa Parks sculpture titled “Continuing the Conversation,” which is prominently located at Georgia Tech. This includes a focus on minorities with the establishment of endowed, merit-based and need-based scholarships at Georgia Tech, Rollins College, UMBC and the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation. He has published works, including "America Desperately Needs More STEM Students" in Forbes, emphasizing minority participation in STEM. In addition, the “Rodney C. Adkins Legacy Award for Business Transformation” is presented annually in recognition of a deserving industry leader for their consistent impact and contributions in the STEM fields.

Adkins serves on the board of directors of United Parcel Service (UPS),

In 2022, Adkins was inducted into the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Alumni Hall of Fame.

In 2024, Adkins was inducted into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Hall of Fame.

His life journey has been recorded by The HistoryMakers.

As of February 2025, he has been a part of the Avnet Board of Directors for a decade.