Ron Nicol

Nicol grew up in Maryland and attended Beall High School in Frostburg, Maryland.{{cite news|last1=Smalley|first1=Kristen|title=Our Giving Story: Ron and Liane Nicol|url=https://dukeforward.duke.edu/blog/our-giving-story-ron-and-liane-nicol|work=Duke Forward|date=August 21, 2014}} He received his BS in physics from the United States Naval Academy. Nicol was on active duty for seven years, teaching nuclear engineering and serving aboard a ballistic missile submarine. He attended Duke University's Fuqua School of Business with financial assistance from his employer and the G.I. Bill, graduating with an MBA in 1986.{{cite web|title=Ron Nicol, Class of 1986|url=http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/weekend-mba/student-life/profiles/ron-nicol/|website=Duke University The Fuqua School of Business|accessdate=13 November 2016}} He later served in the Naval Reserve and attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

Nicol graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1975 with honors. He ranked #7 in the class with a 3.88/4.00 (GPA) in physics. He was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Prize for outstanding academic work at the academy. After graduation, he conducted research in plasma physics at the United States Naval Research Laboratory.

Nicol was assigned to the USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) following nuclear power school. While on board he was qualified as officer of the deck (OOD), engineering officer of the watch (EOOW), engineering duty officer (EDO), and command duty officer. His final assignment was as main propulsion assistant (MPA) on the submarine. He successfully completed the Chief Engineers Exam and was so designated by Naval Reactors.

Nicol was detailed to the Nuclear Power School where he served as an instructor. Nicol departed active duty in 1982 and then remained in the Naval Reserves, assigned to COMSUBLANT. Nicol entered retired Reserve status in 1995.

Nicol was named a 2023 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Naval Academy. This award is given to 5 living alumni from the more than 50,000 living alumni on an annual basis.

Nicol's first civilian job was with Babcock & Wilcox, an energy company based in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he later was responsible for manufacturing in the Naval Nuclear Fuel Division.

Nicol joined the Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting firm, in 1987. He worked out of their Chicago office and was elected partner four years later. In 1993, he opened the firm's Dallas office. In 2006, Nicol was named one of the top 25 Global Consultants by Consulting Magazine.{{cite news |url=https://www.consultingmag-digital.com/consultingmag/20091112?pg=28#pg28 |title=The Top 25 Consultants |work=Consulting |publisher=ALM Media Properties |date=2009-11-01 |accessdate=2020-12-02 }}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He served as a senior partner and managing director before becoming a senior advisor in January 2016. His areas of focus have been technology and organization.{{cite news|last1=Naylor|first1=Brian|last2=Sprunt|first2=Barbara|title=From Lobbyists To Loyalists, See Who's On Donald Trump's Transition Team|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/11/16/502175860/from-lobbyists-to-loyalists-see-whos-on-donald-trumps-transition-team|work=NPR|date=November 16, 2016}} He is also a Special Advisor at Tritium Partners{{cite web |url=http://www.tritiumpartners.com/executives/# |title=Executives & Advisors |publisher=Tritium Partners, LLC |accessdate=2020-12-14 }} and Anzu Industrial Capital Partners.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcg.com/alumni/alumni-interview-david-nicol-haring-smith |title= A Collaborative & Inspired Approach |last=Michael |first=David |date=2018-09-25 |accessdate=2020-12-14 }}

In 2016, Nicol was selected to direct the agency action team in charge of President-elect Donald J. Trump's transition.{{cite web|last1=Romm|first1=Tony|title=New details emerge on Trump transition organization|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/new-details-emerge-on-trump-transition-organization-231152|website=Politico|accessdate=November 13, 2016|date=November 9, 2016}} The team was responsible for the successful turnover of all agencies of the federal government.{{cite news|last1=Bender|first1=Michael C.|title=Donald Trump's Transition Team Relies on a Mix of GOP Traditionalists and Outsiders|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trumps-transition-team-relies-on-a-mix-of-gop-traditionalists-and-outsiders-1478817889|accessdate=13 November 2016|agency=The Wall Street Journal}}

Subsequent to the Trump Transition, Nicol returned to the world of business by joining a number of corporate boards, becoming an advisor to private equity and venture capital firms and becoming a senior advisor at The Boston Consulting Group.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/ron-nicol |title=Ron Nicol Senior Advisor Dallas |publisher=Boston Consulting Group |accessdate=2020-12-06 }}

In November 2012, Nicol became the chairman, Board of Visitors Fuqua School of Business, Duke University. During his tenure Fuqua, was rated number one U.S. business school by Business Week. Nicol currently is Chairman Emeritus, Board of Visitors.{{cite web |url=https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/about/leadership |title=Leadership - Meet Our Teams |publisher=Duke University's Fuqua School of Business |accessdate=2020-12-14 }}

In March 2018, Nicol took a position on the board of Austin Industries, a United States-based diversified construction company.{{cite web |url=http://www.austin-ind.com/leadership.html |title=Leadership |publisher=Austin Industries |accessdate=2020-12-02 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.austin-ind.com/bio-ron-nicol.html |title=Ron Nicol Board of Directors / Independent Member |accessdate=2020-12-02 }}

From July 2019 through October 2020, Nicol was a board member for Top Aces US, who provide advanced airborne training to major air forces globally.

In March 2020, Nicol became a board member for the United States Naval Academy Foundation, a not for profit organization that supports the Naval Academy and its mission.{{cite web |url=https://www.usna.com/foundation-board-of-directors |title=Foundation Board of Directors |publisher=USNA Alumni Association and Foundation |accessdate=2020-12-02 }}

In March 2021, Nicol became a trustee for the United States Naval Academy Athletic and Scholarship Program.

NUBURU, an Industrial high power blue laser manufacturer, named Nicol the Executive Chairman in early December 2021. he will also sit on the board of the Centennial, Colorado based company.{{cite news |author=Staff Writer |url=https://www.laserfocusworld.com/industrial-laser-solutions/article/14221828/blue-industrial-laser-maker-nuburu-wraps-20m-series-b-funding-round |title=Blue industrial laser maker Nuburu wraps $20M Series B funding round |work=Laser Focus World |date=2021-12-07 |accessdate=2021-12-09 }}

Nicol is married to Liane S. Nicol. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. In 2012, the Nicols set up a $1 million charitable lead annuity trust (CLAT) to benefit their daughters and the Ronald L. and Liane S. Nicol Scholarship Endowment of Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.{{cite news|last1=Ebeling|first1=Ashlea|title=Precision Wealth Transfer With A CLAT|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2014/12/10/precision-wealth-transfer-with-a-clat/print/|work=Forbes|date=December 10, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218220944/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2014/12/10/precision-wealth-transfer-with-a-clat/|url-status=live|archivedate=December 18, 2016}}

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Category:1953 births

Category:American management consultants

Category:Boston Consulting Group people

Category:Businesspeople from Maryland

Category:Fuqua School of Business alumni

Category:Living people

Category:People from Frostburg, Maryland

Category:United States Naval Academy alumni

Category:United States Navy submariners

Category:United States Navy reservists