Director of Strategy Integration Steve Rugg, originally from Tempe, Arizona, first met The Navigators in 1987 at The University of Arizona, where he came to know and follow Jesus and learned to help others do the same. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at The University of Arizona, then a Master of Science in mechanical engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Steve then spent four years as a new product development engineer for Cummins Inc. in Columbus, Indiana. During those years, he was active in making disciples at his church and in his workplace.
In 1998, Steve left his engineering career and moved to Colorado Springs to serve with The Navigators Collegiate office for the next 15 years, including 13 years as the director of Collegiate operations. He then moved into other national operational roles, including the creation of Staff Services in 2015 and the Field Support Center in 2019. He joined the National Leadership Team in 2022 and moved into his current role with Strategy Integration in January 2024.
Steve has been married to Carol Rugg, part of the Train – Develop – Care leadership team at USHQ, since 1994. They have one daughter, Becca, now married, who was involved with The Navigators at Colorado State University and as a counselor with Eagle Lake Day Camps. In his free time, Steve enjoys running, playing games, and traveling. He describes himself as being passionate about justice, integrity, and seeing the Good News of Jesus demonstrated to a watching world.