Stephen Sadler

2024 Distinguished Alumni

B.S. '74/M.S. '76 Mathematics

Stephen Sadler retired at the end of 2023 as the deputy director of the Intelligence Division on the Navy Staff in the Pentagon. He focused on synchronizing the efforts of Naval Intelligence with those of the other components of the intelligence community — both national and in the Department of Defense.

Stephen started in 2000 as an analyst with the programming staff and was in that position on September 11, 2001. Fortunately, Stephen was on his way to the Capitol building with the director of Naval Intelligence for an out-of-cycle hearing when the plane hit the Pentagon.

Stephen initially joined the Navy Staff as a civilian after 24 years of uniformed service in the United States Navy, serving in multiple afloat and ashore positions ranging from security operations in the Western Pacific to rescue operations in the Arabian Gulf. He enlisted in the Navy in 1976 and was commissioned an ensign in 1977.

Stephen earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from OSU. (The keynote speaker for his graduation in ’74 was President Richard Nixon!) He later received an M.A. in national decision-making from the Naval War College.

Stephen is married to his Shawnee High School sweetheart Mary Ruth (née Hatley). She is the co-owner of a studio and art gallery in Shawnee. The couple’s son, Jason, works for the FDA and lives with his wife and three dogs in Maryland.