
Retired Rear Admiral Merrill Ruck became the Executive Director of the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation on October 1, 2005. He moved to the Monterey Peninsula from North Carolina after serving 34 years as a Naval Officer. During his time in the Navy, RADM Ruck served as officer in charge of a Swift Boat in Vietnam, Commanding Officer of USS Bagley FF1069, Engineering Officer USS Coral Sea CV43, Commander Destroyer Squadron 31, Assistant Deputy Director Political Military Affairs in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Commander Naval Base San Francisco. Following his retirement from the Navy in 1997, he served as Senior Administrator to the Supreme Allied Commander in Norfolk, Virginia until 2004.
RADM Ruck has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Brown University and a Master of Science degree from George Washington University.
RADM Ruck is married to Diane Sapeck of Joliet Illinois. They reside in Pacific Grove, California. They have one daughter, Heather Paprocki who resides in Aurora, Colorado, with her husband and son.