New dean selected for Seattle Maritime Academy

Matthew von Ruden, a maritime professional with 28 years of experience in the government and private sectors, is the new dean of the Seattle Maritime Academy.

A 1986 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, von Ruden served 23 years in the Coast Guard, including six assignments at sea, and retired at the rank of captain in 2009.

In the commercial sector, he worked in the chemical and shipbuilding industries in California, Washington and British Columbia.

His education includes a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and three master’s degrees: in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture and in Mechanical Engineering, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.