• Board of Directors
• Special Advisory Committee

BOARD OF TRUSTEES (April 20, 2007)

Hon. Robert Weygand, Chairman
Former State representative, Lieutenant Governor and United States Representative from Rhode Island’s Second District, he served until recently as President of the New England Board of Higher Education. As of March 1, 2004 he is Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer, University of Rhode Island.

BG Louis Abbenante, USA (Ret), former Director of Military Support for the RI National Guard, is now a defense industry consultant with Arizona-based C2 Associates. He served 28 years in a variety of command and staff positions, most recently as CO of the 43rd Chemical Brigade, Connecticut National Guard. A nationally recognized homeland security and emergency management expert, he was national chairman of the committee that shaped the National Guard as well as DOD role in homeland security operations. He is also an Army Aviator. He holds an MS from the Army War College, an MA from Salve Regina University, and a BS in Education from Rhode Island College.

Dr. Vernon Alden, former president of Ohio University and former dean of the Harvard Business School, has been awarded thirteen Honorary Doctor's degrees. He is a Brown University graduate who also served as chairman of the Massachusetts Business Development Council. During WWII he was assigned to USS Saratoga as the Japanese linguist in preparation for the invasion of Japan, and he has long been involved with the Japan-America Society. He has also been a Trustee of the Tax-Free Funds of Hawaii, Oregon and Rhode Island.

BG James A. D'Agostino, USAF (Ret) is the former Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Adjutant General for Air of the RI National Guard. He started his military service by enlisting in the Army, and earned the Combat Infantry Badge in Vietnam. He spent 21 years with the Air Force, to include service as as the Base Civil Engineer responsible for the Coventry and North Smithfield Guard Stations; six years with the National Guard Bureau; and United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Rhode Island. His civilian experience includes 11 years with the City of Providence, culminating as Deputy City Traffic Engineer. He is President of the Reserve Officers Association ((Rhode Island).

LTG Robert F. Foley, USA (Ret) is the Director of Army Emergency Relief in Washington, DC. General Foley is a USMA graduate who earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. He later became Commandant of Cadets at West Point, and served as Commanding General of the United States Military District of Washington and Commanding General, Fifth Army before retiring from active duty in 2000. He served as president of Marion Military Institute prior to assuming his current position.

CAPT James “Lou” Gorman USNR (Ret) , a former Korean War carrier sailor, is best known for his exploits in sports. Lou, the longtime General Manager of the Boston Red Sox, is also a member of the Rhode Island Gridiron Hall of Fame. Lou also served on the Board of Directors for the USS Salem cruiser museum.

ADM James Hogg, USN (Ret) is Director of the Navy Strategic Studies Group, reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations. He served 35 years on active duty, earning his fourth star in 1988. He commanded the U.S. Seventh Fleet and served as the U.S. Representative to NATO before retiring in 1991. Before assuming his current position he was president of the National Security Industrial Association.

Professor Sergei Khrushchev, son of the late Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, is now a senior research fellow at Brown University 's Watson Institute. He edited his father's memoirs. and also writes extensively about the history of the Cold War. Until 1968, Dr. Khrushchev participated in the Soviet missile and space program and earned the Lenin Prize for his work on cruise missiles for submarines.

Ambassador Arthur W. Lewis was a member of the commmissioning crew of USS Saratoga. After retiring from the Navy he graduated from Dartmouth, joined the Diplomatic Service and was assigned to posts in Eastern Europe and Africa. He rose through the ranks to become Ambassador to Sierra Leone under President Reagan, retiring in 1987.

Roy J. Nirschel, PhD is President of Roger Williams University. He has launched the first-ever strategic plan for the University as well as its inaugural capital campaign. Immediately prior to coming to RWU he served as President of Newbury College. Throughout his educational career he has held ever-increasing positions of responsibility in strategic planning and marketing, fundraising, public relations, alumni and community relations at the Universities of Miami, Pittsburgh and Hartford.

CAPT Richard D. Suttie USN (Ret) is Assistant Dean of Academics at the Naval War College in Newport. Professor Suttie oversees research and war gaming operations and researches the future of naval strategy for the Chief of Naval Operations. Captain Suttie logged more than 3,500 hours in a variety of naval aircraft, primarily the P-3 Orion. He served on Battle Group staffs embarked on USS Midway and USS Missouri, and had aviation command in 1996. He was subsequently assigned to attaché duty at the American Embassy in London. A native of San Diego, he is a graduate of USC.

Spencer W. Viner, Esq. serves as the organized labor representative on our board. On behalf of the New England Laborers, he creates strategic alliances with the private sector, labor and government agencies. He previously served as General Counsel to the Education and Training Fund of the Laborer’s International Union. He also served as Pawtucket City Solicitor and Probate Judge; Counsel for the RI Secretary of State. and Counsel to the Rhode Island General Assembly.

RADM Donald E. Weiss, a former commanding officer of USS Saratoga (CV-60), graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was designated a Naval Aviator in February 1970. Before his retirement he also commanded the USS Carl Vinson Battle Group (Carrier Group Three) and also all U.S. Naval Forces in Japan. He is now a senior executive with Lockheed-Martin.

Frederick C. Williamson chairs the RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, and is the longest serving state preservation officer in the nation. He is a recipient of the Louise Dupont Crowninshield Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He also founded the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society.

Last Updated:
5/2/07