Welcome Anthony (Tony) Roach!

The Meinig School is proud to welcome Tony Roach to our staff as director of administration, working with faculty and staff to direct business operations for the Meinig School and its associated programs and engineering research centers. He joined the Meinig School staff in April.

Roach hails originally from Lancaster, PA, and holds a B.S. (Civil, Construction Engineering Technology) from Temple University, NROTC at UPenn, MA (National Security & Strategic Affairs) from U.S. Naval War College. Recently retired from twenty-eight years as a Naval Officer, Roach’s last tour (3 years) was as the Professor of Naval Science (PNS)/Commanding Officer (CO) of the Big Red Navy NROTC Unit in Barton Hall. Over the years he achieved over 3,600 flight hours in Navy H-60 helicopters flying mostly from aircraft carriers. After successful command of a helicopter squadron (HSC-12, Golden Falcons), he was selected for “major” command of the USS John P MURTHA (LPD-26). Most of his career was spent in San Diego CA, but he also spent three years at the Pentagon working with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Of his career so far, Roach says he truly loved leading sailors and flying helicopters in the Navy but notes, “My body reminds my mind every day that [the Navy] is a young person’s game.” He is happy to land here at the Meinig School, where he finds the sense of team and family atmosphere closely aligned with how he led in the Navy and in his life.

“I like to think that the staff and myself help enable the future of medical solutions by allowing the faculty & students to focus on education and research,” Roach says of his new role as director of administration. He looks forward to forging connections with and having a positive impact on students as well, noting that “most of my navy career was spent leading and mentoring 18-20 somethings towards teamwork and mission accomplishment.” 

“We are thrilled to have Tony leading our BME team,” says Marjolein van der Meulen James M. and Marsha McCormick Director of Biomedical Engineering, Swanson Professor of Biomedical Engineering. “Not only does he bring incredible talents and experience running organizations during his Navy career, but also a familiarity working with BME students from his time at Cornell NROTC. Personally, I look forward to his fresh perspective as we work together to advance and promote biomedical engineering at Cornell.” 

In his free time, Roach enjoys doing anything with his family, participating in triathlons, bike riding, and reading military and early U.S. (Revolutionary War era) history. Two quotes that inspire him at work and in life: 

• “Fundamental Success, for future growth” – RDML Joey Tynch 
• “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou