ACWORTH, GA, May 06, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Matthew McLean, GySgt Retired, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. McLean currently serves as a naval science instructor in Cobb County Georgia, where he teaches the prescribed three-or four-year Naval Science curriculum, instructs students in military drill and counsels cadets in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program. His responsibilities include writing, developing and updating lesson plans, mentoring cadets on higher education and employment opportunities, managing government-furnished equipment, and planning extracurricular activities such as color and honor guard ceremonies, drill, drone, academic, marksmanship, athletic, and cyber patriot team competitions, along with various other educational field trips.

In his current capacity, Mr. McLean also prepares periodic reports on program administration, attends Navy-sponsored training to stay current with program requirements, establishes rapport with school counselors and faculty members and recruits new cadets from feeder schools. He is responsible for managing the operating budget for the program and actively seeks recognition and support for the NJROTC program from civic groups.

Prior to his tenure in education, Mr. McLean retired as a gunnery sergeant after 21 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2022. He enlisted immediately after graduating high school, having participated in Marine Corps ROTC. His military career began just before the events of September 11, 2001, and by 2003, he was deployed to Iraq.

Over the course of his service, Mr. McLean held several leadership roles, including 5 years at Camp Lejeune in various command positions, a formal instructor at the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, three years as a recruiter, where he was recognized as rookie recruiter of his first quarter, and several other installations where he held various positions of leadership.

An accomplished welder and engineer, Mr. McLean has also contributed to highly visible projects, including work on Catalina Island, firebreaks, building team rosters to deploy to El Centro in border efforts, and several smaller projects throughout his career. He later served with MWSS-273, CLC-23, and the F-35 program at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort until his retirement in 2022. Throughout his career, Mr. McLean has held several other positions of leadership to include, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in charge, Anti-Terrorism Officer, Engineer Equipment Chief and Company Gunnery Sergeant.

Mr. McLean's educational background reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. After retiring from military service, he earned an associate degree from Technical College of the Lowcountry in 2023 and subsequently completed a Bachelor of Arts in general studies, followed by a Master of Science in organizational leadership at Southern New Hampshire University. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Education at South College and is nearing completion of an education specialist credential.

Reflecting on his career, Mr. McLean attributes his success to perseverance and a refusal to accept "no" as an answer, a philosophy that has guided both his military and educational careers. He encourages others to advocate for themselves persistently until they achieve their goals, emphasizing servant leadership as a core value.

Mr. McLean's success has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Naval Service Training Command Distinguished with Academic honors Unit award, honor graduate distinction at the Engineer Chiefs Course at Fort Leonard Wood, honor graduate distinction from his Military Occupational Specialist School, two Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medals, one Navy Accommodation Medal, among many others. Beyond his professional achievements, he is civically engaged through involvement with his local church and maintains broad associations with community organizations.

Born in Albany, Mr. McLean values spending time with his family, including his wife and two children, and enjoys running and traveling in his free time. He remains most proud of the positive impact he has made on others throughout his career, cherishing moments when former Marines or West Point cadets have reached out to express gratitude for his mentorship or guidance. These connections underscore his commitment to servant leadership and making every encounter meaningful.

Looking ahead, Mr. McLean intends to remain active in education while expanding his influence beyond ROTC instruction and his local school. He is considering launching podcasts and authoring books with the aim of reaching a broader audience as he completes his doctorate and continues to inspire others through teaching and mentorship. He stresses that servant leadership is a lifelong commitment and that living longer means more chances to serve others. He defines true leadership as community-focused, prioritizing "we" over "I," and rooted in wholehearted giving.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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