The Naval War College Foundation has dedicated the Andrew J. Zimbelmann Endowed Chair for Leadership, Ethics, and Character at the U.S. Naval War College.
Established through a commitment from the Tony and Ann Ryan Family Foundation, the chair will provide permanent support for a senior faculty position focused on leadership, ethics and character education for military officers and civilian leaders preparing for command and national security decision-making.
“The Zimbelmann Chair affirms a core principle of the Naval War College: leadership, ethics, and character are inseparable,” said RDML A.B. Cruz III, USN (Ret.), chair of the foundation’s board of trustees. He thanked Tony and Ann Ryan for “making a permanent investment in how leaders lead.”
The chair honors A.J. Zimbelmann, who spent four decades at General Dynamics Electric Boat working on submarine programs central to U.S. deterrence. The release said colleagues valued his ability to weigh risk carefully and lead with integrity. “This Chair stands as a commitment to the future of the U.S. Navy and Joint Force, to the enduring importance of ethical leadership, and to the belief that strong character is the ultimate strategic advantage,” Tony Ryan said.
RADM Darryl Walker, president of the Naval War College, said the position reflects the college’s responsibility to develop leaders whose judgment and character guide the authority they exercise. “This investment will help ensure our students wield power with restraint, discipline, and moral clarity,” he said.
The chair will help design and teach courses on ethical decision-making, command accountability and character across operational, strategic and policy contexts. The college will begin seeking candidates to fill the position in the days ahead.
