Ann E . Rondeau Ann E . Rondeau is an IBM Partner and Co - Account Lead for the OSD - J Industry Account Team . She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and a member of the Executive Committee of Council for Higher Education Accreditation . She retired as a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy after 38 years of active service on April 11 , 2012 . She last served as President of the National Defense University . Biography . Vice Admiral Rondeau is a native of San Antonio , Texas , and grew up in Beacon , New York . She graduated with a degree in history in 1973 from Eisenhower College , where she was selected by the Board of Trustees as " Most Distinguished Graduate " and received the Groben Award for Leadership . She also attended Northern Illinois University and Georgetown University . In the Navy , Vice Admiral Rondeau served in leadership , staff and command assignments in myriad mission areas : fleet operations ( anti - submarine warfare , air operations , operations , intelligence , maritime transportation and sealift ) , strategy and policy , political - military affairs , training and education , business enterprise , strategic logistics and shore installations . She was selected as a White House Fellow , a Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group Fellow , and permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations . As president of NDU , she was a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace , and served as a Department of Defense liaison to The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress . Ann is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors ( NACD ) a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association ( AFCEA ) and the AFCEA Foundation Education Committee . [ 2 ] She is a member of the Atlantic Council of the United States ( ACUS ) and serves as the Co - Chairman of the Board of Directors of one of the nation ' s leading distance learning education entities , American Public University System ( APUS ) . She is a member of the Executive Committee of Council for Higher Education Accreditation and Co - Chair of the newly formed Commission on Quality Assurance and Alternative Higher Education . ( CHEA ) She is also on the Board of Directors of the German Marshall Fund ( GMF ) . Vice Admiral Rondeau received the New York City USO 2008 Woman of the Year award , is currently a member of the Board of Directors at American Public University System , and is also on the Board of Directors of the German Marshall Fund . In January 2013 , Ann was the recipient of The Women ' s Center ' s Leadership Award in recognition of service as a leader with the United States Navy and presently as a leader and executive with the IBM corporation . Focused on public service , Ann engages in volunteer and pro bono work . She is also frequently a guest lecturer in classes at The Albright Institute at Wellesley College and George Washington University , and is a speaker at myriad other public engagements . Ann Rondeau is currently an executive with IBM Corporation serving as Partner and Co - Account Lead for the OSD - J Industry Account Team . Naval career . Vice Adm . Rondeau earned her commission in 1974 through Officer Candidate School . Subsequent assignments include Navy Staff in the NATO / Europe section of the Strategy , Plans and Policy Division ; Office of the Secretary of Defense as Assistant for Policy Analysis ; the Office of African Affairs ; Special Assistant to the Attorney General for National Security Affairs ( as a White House Fellow ) ; Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ) Executive Panel as Assistant for Political - Military Analysis ; Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy ; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Shore Installations for Commander in Chief , U . S . Pacific Fleet Staff . Her early leadership tours include serving as the Air Intelligence Officer and Operations Officer for VP - 50 , the Executive Officer for Fast Sealift Squadron One ( FSS - 1 ) , the Officer - in - Charge of Military Sealift Command Unit ( New Orleans ) , and as a Battalion Officer at the U . S . Naval Academy . Vice Adm . Rondeau has also held many senior command positions , to include : Commanding Officer , Naval Support Activity , La Maddalena , Italy and at Support Activity Mid - South in Millington , Tennessee ; Commander of Naval Training Center Great Lakes and subsequently , the first Commander of Naval Service Training Command , which was established June 30 , 2003 . Following those tours , Vice Adm . Rondeau assumed command of Naval Personnel Development Command in November 2004 , and later became the Director of Navy Staff ( DNS ) in August 2005 . Vice Adm . Rondeau is Surface Warfare qualified , training on both MSC Merchant Marine vessels and United States Navy combatants . She holds subspecialty qualifications in political - military affairs , operations intelligence , operations analysis , strategy and planning and military transportation . ASSIGNMENTS Education . Graduating in 1973 from Eisenhower College , Vice Adm . Rondeau also holds a master ' s degree in Political Science from Georgetown University and a doctoral degree from Northern Illinois University . She has also been awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Public Service from Carthage College , Kenosha , Wisconsin . EDUCATION Awards and Decorations . Vice Admiral Rondeau ' s personal awards include : See also . Women in the United States Navy