UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Former member of the Penn State Board of Trustees and retired United States Navy Capt. Ryan McCombie was officially confirmed as an emeritus trustee by the board today (Sep. 14).
Emeritus status is an honorary designation granted to former members of the board who have served for six or more years, with distinction, and have been recommended by the board’s Committee on Governance and Long-Range Planning. This emeritus status lasts for six years, at which time the individual retains the title but relinquishes all other rights and privileges of the designation.
With emeritus status, McCombie will draw on his previous board service to provide counsel as needed and will be invited to attend University events, activities and public meetings of the board, as well as serve on certain standing committees as a nonvoting member at the appointment of the board chair.
McCombie, a 1970 alumnus, was elected by alumni to the Board of Trustees in July 2012 and served for six years before deciding not to run for re-election. Before his tenure on the board, McCombie served in the Navy for more than 26 years, beginning his career with a SEAL tour in Vietnam.
His decorated military career included becoming the first American to complete French SEAL training, being selected as the first United States military attaché to the U.S. embassy in the Brazzaville in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, commanding SEAL Team Two and serving in multiple high-level positions in the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C. He was awarded over two dozen medals and awards during his time in the military, including the Bronze Star, a Legion of Merit award, and two Defense Superior Service medals.
Since retiring from the Navy in 1996, McCombie has worked as an independent business consultant and serves on the boards of advisers and boards of directors of several national firms. He also has served his alma mater on the advisory board for Penn State Outreach and Online Education, as chair of Penn State World Campus’ military scholarship foundation and as a member of the Mount Nittany Society.