The Naval War College Foundation (NWCF) is pleased to announce the unanimous appointment of the Honorable Ronald K. Machtley to a three-year term on its Board of Trustees. Machtley has been a steadfast supporter of the U.S. Naval War College (USNWC) as a Life Member of the NWCF, and brings decades of experience in higher education, military and public service, and nonprofit leadership to the Board.
“The Honorable Ronald K. Machtley represents the caliber of highly professionalized trustees who have a proven record of distinguished service in business, academia, the military, and nonprofit organizations on a national scale,” said Philip M. Bilden, NWCF Chairman. “I am grateful that he has volunteered his considerable expertise in higher education, fundraising, legislative and political affairs, and national security and U.S. Navy advocacy to the Foundation.”
Machtley’s military and national security career began after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970. He served five years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Line Officer and retired as a Captain from the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1995 after 25 years of service. In addition, Machtley earned a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1978 and was admitted to the bar in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Florida. He was a practicing attorney before his election to the United States Congress in 1988.
Machtley served three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives and was a member of the House Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the Military Educational Sub-Committee. He was the ranking Republican on the Small Business Committee’s Minority Enterprise, Finance, and Urban Development Subcommittee. While in Congress, Machtley introduced the bill and initiative that enabled the USNWC to offer Master’s Degrees. As a former participant in the College’s war gaming, he understood the importance of the program. He spearheaded the effort to appropriate funds for the new wargaming facility and enhanced library.
Most recently, Machtley served as the seventh president of Bryant University before his retirement in 2020. His 24 years of leadership at Bryant made him one of the longest-serving university presidents in the country. During his tenure, he led the transformation of the institution from Bryant College to Bryant University and oversaw impressive growth in enrollment, academic programs and athletics, facilities, and endowments, which earned recognition both regionally and nationally. Machtley was honored several times professionally throughout his career and was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2018.
“I am thrilled to have the Honorable Ronald K. Machtley join the ranks of our dedicated Board of Trustees,” said CAPT George E. Lang, Jr., USN (Ret.), CEO of the NWCF. “I know the Foundation and College will benefit greatly from his exceptional leadership and experience, and I look forward to working with him to grow our organization.”
Machtley currently serves on the boards of Taco, Inc., the Warren Alpert Foundation, and Amica Mutual Insurance, where he is Lead Director. He is the Past President of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and continues to serve on its Board of Trustees. He has also served on the board of the Rhode Island Foundation, the Preservation Society of Newport County, and the Rhode Island Association of Independent Colleges and University Presidents Forum. He resides in Portsmouth, RI with his wife, Kati.