After more than four decades in the labor movement, Ronanld E. Ault, Metal Trades Department, (MTD) AFL-CIO president retired on July 1, 2016.
Ault, a Vietnam veteran, served a four-year enlistment with the U.S. Navy before beginning his career as an apprentice with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1971. After graduating with honors four years later, Ault worked as a journeyman inside machinists for the Virginia based shipyard.
Ault served in various local and national union positions throughout his distinguished career before becoming president of the Department in 2002.
From 1980-1985, he served as president of the Tidewater Virginia Federal Employees Metal Trades Council and the Chairman of the Conference Committee at NNSY in Portsmouth, VA. Ault also served as Campaign Coordinator in the Metal Trades Department’s successful drive for union recognition at the Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans and was the Chief Negotiator for the historic first union contract at the yard.
Ault served as an organizer for the International Union of Operating Engineers and business representative for the IAM and later as the East Coast General Representative for the Metal Trades Department under former President John Meese.