Ronne Froman
Encyclopedia
Veronica "Ronne" Froman is an American retired naval officer. She was the first woman to serve as commander of the United States Navy
Region Southwest, a position known as the "Navy Mayor of San Diego". She retired from the Navy in 2001 with the rank of Rear Admiral
, after a 31-year career.
Following her retirement she took on several high-profile civilian positions in San Diego, California
: chief of business operations for the San Diego Unified School District
; CEO of the local chapter of the American Red Cross
; and the first Chief Operating Officer for the city of San Diego. In July 2011 she was named CEO of the Monarch School Project.
, and graduated from Seton Hill College. She received a Navy commission in 1970. When she retired in 2001 as a Rear Admiral (two-star admiral), she was one of the highest-ranking female officers in the Navy. During her military career the role of women in the Navy was greatly expanded. "When I joined, we (women) couldn't go to sea; we didn't have command; there were no lady admirals", she said in 2009. "It kind of evolved over the years I was in the Navy."
Her assignments during her 31-year career included commanding the Navy's Southwest Region from 1997 until 2000. She was the first woman to hold that position. The command supports Navy shore installations in six western states and is headquartered in San Diego. The commander of the Southwest Region is often referred to as the "Navy Mayor of San Diego". At the time the Southwest Region employed approximately 86,000 sailors and 35,000 civilians. There were 56 ships, five submarines and 600 aircraft home-ported in the region.
She also served two high-level assignments at the Pentagon
, including Director of Shore Readiness for the Chief of Naval Operations
from 2000 to 2001. During her time on active duty she received the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal
and the United States Navy Distinguished Service Medal
.
from 2001 till 2003. She is credited with trimming millions of dollars from district business operations during that time.
In 2003 she became CEO of the San Diego-Imperial Counties chapter of the American Red Cross
. She was recruited to that position by chapter chairman Jerry Sanders
to restore the unit's reputation and credibility. The chapter had come under heavy criticism because of controversy over the use of funds donated for the relief of victims of a 2001 wildfire. She instituted changes in accountability and transparency which earned praise when the region was again struck by fire
in 2003.
In 2005 Sanders ran for mayor of San Diego in a special election, promising that if elected he would appoint Froman as his second-in-command. When he took office in January 2006 he appointed her as the first-ever Chief Operating Office of the city, with functions similar to a city manager
. She resigned in June 2007 and took a position as senior vice president for the energy group of General Atomics
.
She has had a longtime interest in homeless issues and particularly in the Monarch School, a public K-12 school for students who are at risk or actually impacted by homelessness. She served on the school project's board of directors since 2004 and served as interim vice president of the public-private partnership before being named CEO in July 2011.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Region Southwest, a position known as the "Navy Mayor of San Diego". She retired from the Navy in 2001 with the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
, after a 31-year career.
Following her retirement she took on several high-profile civilian positions in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
: chief of business operations for the San Diego Unified School District
San Diego City Schools
San Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
; CEO of the local chapter of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
; and the first Chief Operating Officer for the city of San Diego. In July 2011 she was named CEO of the Monarch School Project.
Military career
Froman was born in Uniontown, PennsylvaniaUniontown, Pennsylvania
Uniontown is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Population in 1900, 7,344; in 1910, 13,344; in 1920, 15,692; and in 1940, 21,819. The population was 10,372 at the 2010 census...
, and graduated from Seton Hill College. She received a Navy commission in 1970. When she retired in 2001 as a Rear Admiral (two-star admiral), she was one of the highest-ranking female officers in the Navy. During her military career the role of women in the Navy was greatly expanded. "When I joined, we (women) couldn't go to sea; we didn't have command; there were no lady admirals", she said in 2009. "It kind of evolved over the years I was in the Navy."
Her assignments during her 31-year career included commanding the Navy's Southwest Region from 1997 until 2000. She was the first woman to hold that position. The command supports Navy shore installations in six western states and is headquartered in San Diego. The commander of the Southwest Region is often referred to as the "Navy Mayor of San Diego". At the time the Southwest Region employed approximately 86,000 sailors and 35,000 civilians. There were 56 ships, five submarines and 600 aircraft home-ported in the region.
She also served two high-level assignments at the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, including Director of Shore Readiness for the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
from 2000 to 2001. During her time on active duty she received the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
and the United States Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
.
Civilian career
Following her retirement from the Navy she settled in San Diego. She served as chief of business operations for the San Diego Unified School DistrictSan Diego Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
from 2001 till 2003. She is credited with trimming millions of dollars from district business operations during that time.
In 2003 she became CEO of the San Diego-Imperial Counties chapter of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
. She was recruited to that position by chapter chairman Jerry Sanders
Jerry Sanders
Jerry Sanders may refer to:* Jerry Sanders * Jerry Sanders...
to restore the unit's reputation and credibility. The chapter had come under heavy criticism because of controversy over the use of funds donated for the relief of victims of a 2001 wildfire. She instituted changes in accountability and transparency which earned praise when the region was again struck by fire
Cedar Fire
The Cedar Fire was a human-caused wildfire that burned out of control through a large area of San Diego County, in Southern California, in October 2003...
in 2003.
In 2005 Sanders ran for mayor of San Diego in a special election, promising that if elected he would appoint Froman as his second-in-command. When he took office in January 2006 he appointed her as the first-ever Chief Operating Office of the city, with functions similar to a city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
. She resigned in June 2007 and took a position as senior vice president for the energy group of General Atomics
General Atomics
General Atomics is a nuclear physics and defense contractor headquartered in San Diego, California. General Atomics’ research into fission and fusion matured into competencies in related technologies, allowing the company to expand into other fields of research...
.
She has had a longtime interest in homeless issues and particularly in the Monarch School, a public K-12 school for students who are at risk or actually impacted by homelessness. She served on the school project's board of directors since 2004 and served as interim vice president of the public-private partnership before being named CEO in July 2011.