Ronald F. Marryott

Rear Admiral Ronald F. Marryott (February 18, 1934 – June 4, 2005) was the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 1986 to 1988. He served as president and CEO of the George C. Marshall Foundation, and president and CEO of the Naval Academy Alumni Association from 1996 to 2000. He also was President of the Naval War College from 1985 to 1986.

Early career
After graduating from the Academy in 1957 Marryott was designated a Naval Aviator. He flew patrol and surveillance operations in P-2V and P-3 aircraft over both the Atlantic and the Pacific and participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade, he also served as Project Mercury recovery officer for the first three manned spaceflights. In the mid-1960s at the academy, he taught naval history and the history of U.S. foreign policy, American government and politics, and international relations. Marryott saw duty in Vietnam and flew numerous Cold War missions. He went on to command Patrol Squadron 9 and the Naval Air Station, Moffett Field, California He served as a Navy aviator and commanded the Iceland Defense Force. He also served seven tours in the Pentagon and was President of the Naval War College from 1985 to 1986.

Superintendent
One of his greatest challenges as the academy's superintendent was to stanch the dropout rate for female midshipmen. He appointed a task force to examine the reasons for the high attrition rate in the 1980s. He found that much of the problem was that female recruits often lacked strong backgrounds in sciences or athletics, two staples of life at the academy. Once recruiters started looking for women who were strong in these areas, as were their male counterparts, the attrition rate dropped.

Decorations

 * Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Navy Distinguished Service Medal
 * US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit with Gold Star
 * Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
 * Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal
 * Order of the Falcon ribbon.jpg Order of the Falcon
 * Fr Nat Order of Merit ribbon.jpg Ordre National du Mérite

Later life
Marryott retired from active duty in 1990 and served as president and chief executive officer of the George C. Marshall Foundation before returning to Annapolis as president and chief executive officer of the academy's alumni association. He retired from the association in 2000, but remained active and served as co-chairman of the Class of '57 fundraising efforts. He was honored in 2004 as a Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate, he was a member of the class of 1957. He died on June 4, 2005 of complications from leukemia at the age of 71. Marryott was buried with full military honors at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery.