President
NAVIGATORS WELCOME NEW U.S. PRESIDENT
by Dean Ridings
The U.S. Navigators’ Board of Directors commissioned Dr. Doug Nuenke as president and director of the U.S. Navigators on Thursday, August 14, following a consideration process involving several qualified candidates for the position. In the end, Doug, 50, was the unanimous choice of a 35-member President Selection Council, comprised of a diverse group of Navigator staff members who assembled August 9–12 at Navigator headquarters at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs. Doug moves into his new role October 1.
Mike Treneer, The Navigators’ international president, says he will never forget how the room broke into spontaneous applause when the final vote was announced. Commenting on their unique style of leadership, Treneer says, “Doug and Pam knelt down in front of us to symbolize in a very powerful way their desire to lead as servants in releasing the gifts of others.”
“Doug has a great ability to draw people around him and not be the one man out front,” says Jerry White, chairman of the U.S. Navigators’ Board of Directors. “He will clearly work with a team and draw on the strengths of others.”
The Nuenkes joined Navigator staff in 1992 to pursue an international mission assignment. They became involved in campus ministry at the University of Kansas, and in 1994 Doug helped launch the EDGE Corps—a short-term missions program for recent college graduates—and led that initiative from 1997 to 2001. During that time they moved to Colorado Springs to operate EDGE Corps from Navigator headquarters.
From 2001 to 2004 Doug served in a number of capacities with the Collegiate Navigators, including associate director and western divisional leader. His gifts contributed to the growth and development of the collegiate work and recruiting a next generation of staff. During these years, Doug was also involved in the international leader community.
In late 2004, Doug was asked to join the leadership of The Navigators’ U.S. Metro Mission. He has co-directed or directed the Metro Mission for three and a half years. During these years he helped bring clarity to Metro’s vision and focus toward the next generation. In 2007, Doug completed his Doctorate through Denver Seminary, with a focus in Executive Leadership. His thesis researched the roles of missional living and community among young people in their 20s who are followers of Jesus.
When it comes to leadership, Doug says David of the Old Testament is his model of the kind of leader he wants to be, as reflected in Psalm 78:72, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”
“What I desire is to live up to that, to be a shepherding leader and to lead skillfully,” says Doug, “so that our staff are really freed up to do what God has called them to do.”
The Nuenkes have a heart for their family, three children ages 24, 21, and 19, and a son-in-law. They have a “deep thirst” for God’s Word, are involved in mentoring young men and women, and are growing in community together with a few close friends.
Watch a video with Doug explaining the heart of the Metro Mission.
