‘Trailblazing’ NDU president retires

National Defense University bid farewell to its president, Navy Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, in a retirement ceremony held April 11 in Washington.

Rondeau was honored at the ceremony by the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. James Winnefeld Jr., who officiated the ceremony and hailed her as “a great sailor, a great officer and a great American.”

Rondeau retired after 38 years in the Navy. She had been president of NDU since 2009.

“Many of the women officers who are today growing into key line leadership positions in our Navy owe it to a few trail blazers like Ann, our Navy’s most senior three-star officer, who demonstrated how much we had to gain by opening the door to women’s leadership,” Winnefeld said.

According to a Defense Department release, Ambassador Nancy McEldowney, NDU’s senior vice president, will serve as interim president until Rondeau’s successor, Army Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin, arrives this summer. He is currently commandant of the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.