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John Sullivan

Colonel John Sullivan
Appalachian Athletic Conference
Commissioner
Class of 2024

The story of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) cannot be told without Colonel John Sullivan.

Over the past 25 years, Sullivan has faithfully devoted his service to collegiate athletics serving as a Director of Athletics, President of the AAC, and eventually being named the first commissioner of the AAC. He has been an advocate for the NAIA serving on several committees that have helped to strengthen the membership through legislation and membership growth. John has overseen the growth of the AAC membership as it is one of the largest conferences in the NAIA. Sullivan is a retired Colonel within the US Marine Corps who has a proven record of leadership.

Sullivan served as Commissioner of the Appalachian Athletic Conference from 2003 until 2022. He served in many different roles within the AAC and NAIA during his time of service, including serving as Chair of the National Administrative Council (NAC). Sullivan was an advocate of the NAIA Champions of Character program from its inception and stressed the importance to his conference and colleagues on the importance of character-driven athletics. He was an avid supporter of the NAIA membership as he continuously searched for new members to join the NAIA and the AAC.

During his tenure as the AAC Commissioner, Sullivan saw the league grow to 16 full members and 24 championship sports. Upon his retirement, the Female and Male Champions of Character Awards were renamed the John Sullivan Student-Athletes of Character Awards in recognition of his championing of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative.

Honors and awards he has received include:

  • NAIA Region XII AD of the Year (1999, 2003)
  • NAIA Charles Morris Administrator of the Year (2010-11)
  • NAIA Hall of Fame (2023-24)

Sullivan has served on numerous committees in the NAIA including the National Administrative Council (Chair of NAC, Chair of Experience and Enhancement Sub-Committee), the Conference Administration Committee, the Marketing Committee, the Letter of Intent Taskforce, and the National Coordinating Committee.

Before entering academia, he served for 28 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter gunship pilot in Vietnam, a fighter pilot, squadron commander, senior staff officer, base commander, and professor, retiring as a colonel. 

He is married to Roberta Rice Sullivan and they have nine grandchildren. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California (BA-Political Science), Webster University (MA-Management), and the Naval War College.