Ronnie Wade was born in Wetzel County, West Virginia. Even though his family moved away for his father’s work, Wetzel County was always home. He spent his summers here with his grandparents, learning the value of family, hard work, and looking out for your neighbors.

Ronnie served 22 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy. He started out as a nuclear welder, doing critical repair work on nuclear submarines where safety, attention to detail, and doing the job right mattered every single day.

Later in his career, Ronnie became a Trident submarine superintendent, helping manage major maintenance projects and multi-million-dollar budgets. As the only Chief Petty Officer serving as Maintenance Coordinator for the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and its carrier task force, he was responsible for keeping the ship and task force ready to go, supervising 140 sailors and coordinating support across 22 ships. He also served as a qualified Navy welding instructor and spent three years as a lead instructor, training sailors and holding them to the highest standards.

Ronnie’s Navy service took him around the world, including Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Persian Gulf, but it also taught him the importance of teamwork, accountability, and stepping up when others are counting on you.

After retiring from the Navy, Ronnie chose to come home to Wetzel County. He and his wife of 37 years raised their family here, and he’s a proud father and grandfather. Ronnie believes our schools should be safe, run responsibly, and focused on giving students real opportunities—whether that’s college, career training, or the skilled trades.

Ronnie is running for the Wetzel County Board of Education to give back to the community that raised him and to make sure our schools stay accountable, transparent, and focused on what matters most: our kids.