An accomplished naval officer and businessman was the keynote speaker Monday, for the 10th Annual Dr. Lucille and Larry Ford Distinguished Business Lecture Series at Ashland University.

Admiral Thomas Lynch, a 70-year-old Lima, Ohio native, served for 31years in the U.S. Navy and now is Managing Director of the Musser Group, a private equity and venture capital firm in Philadelphia.

The title of his speech was "Ship, Shipmate, Self". 

He says he learned when he took command of his first ship that he was responsible for the ship and his 250-member crew and he had to put their interests above his own.

He says to be a leader, you must earn the trust and respect of those in your charge and put what's good for them ahead of what you want. 

Lynch urges parents to teach their children not to be cynical over, or distracted by, the many bad influences in life, and to develop senses of unselfishness and leadership as they grow and make their way in the world.

Prior to being named managing director of The Musser Group, Lynch was a senior vice president of The Staubach Company from 2001 to 2008, following six years at Safeguard Scientifics that included two years as president/COO of CompuCom Systems in Dallas, Texas. While at Safeguard, he was responsible for the operations, mergers and acquisitions, and oversight of other emerging partnership companies.

After a 31-year naval career, which included command of the Eisenhower Battle Group during Operation Desert Shield and a position as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, Lynch retired from the Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral in 1995.

He now serves several private and publicly held companies. He chairs the board of New Day USA, a mortgage lending company focused to provide VA/FHA loans to our military veterans, and is a board member of PRWT Services, Mikros Systems and Buckeye Insurance.

He also is on the board of the Armed Forces Benefit Association, Philadelphia Sports Congress, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Catholic Leadership Institute, Economics Pennsylvania and USO World Board of Governors. He has served as chairman of the Cradle of Liberty Council and Boy Scouts of America, and currently chairs the U.S. Naval Academy Athletic and Scholarship Foundation.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor of science in 1964 and earned a master of science from George Washington University in 1971. He was recognized as a U.S. Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate in 2010.