Managing Director
Brief info
Nick Lippert is a strategic communicator, community leader, and proud native of Chardon, Ohio. He currently serves as the Managing Director of the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation, where he leads the Foundation’s daily operations, strategic outreach, and engagement efforts to support the commissioning and service life of the future USS Cleveland (LCS-31). In this role, he works closely with civic leaders, donors, and community stakeholders to strengthen public-military ties and ensure long-term support for the ship and its crew.
Nick graduated from The Ohio State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, concentrating on Security & Intelligence, with minors in Naval Science and Russian.
After commissioning as a U.S. Navy officer, Nick’s early service included selection to undergo Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training at the Naval Special Warfare Center, followed by military flight training, where he logged over 100 flight hours and completed solo flights in three different aircraft models.
In 2022, he transitioned into public affairs, completing advanced training at the Defense Information School. He has since led Navy communications efforts for high-visibility events including Fleet Weeks in New York and San Francisco, where he managed press engagements with senior military and government officials, public figures, and national media outlets.
He later served as the Deputy Director of Communications for a Carrier Strike Group while deployed in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. There, he oversaw joint media operations, advised leadership during multinational exercises, and led a team of over 70 personnel, driving cohesive communication efforts in hostile environments around the globe.
Nick continues to serve as a Naval Reserve officer while advancing civic and community engagement in his home state. His leadership blends military experience, strategic communications, and entrepreneurial drive with a deep commitment to the people of Ohio and their future.