National Chair
Ricky Mason is honored to be the National Chair of Scouting America. He believes passionately in the power of Scouting to help our kids become the best version of themselves, through learning, achieving, and respecting and working with others, all while having the most fun and adventure possible.
Ricky grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where he became an Eagle Scout in the troop sponsored by his synagogue. At age 14, he trekked over 100 miles through the New Mexico Rockies at the iconic Philmont Scout Ranch, an unforgettable experience from which, like so many youth over its history, he came out much more confident and mature than he went in.
Ricky chaired the Greater New York Councils, which serves thousands of youths in New York City. At Scouting’s request, he gathered and led the over 240 local councils through the national organization’s bankruptcy settlement and emergence.
Recognized internationally as one of the leading restructuring professionals, Ricky recently retired as a senior partner in Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where he drove business and government turnarounds worldwide over a nearly four-decade career.
A Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout, Ricky is also a recipient of the National Human Relations Award presented by the American Jewish Committee, a global organization committed to the American ideals of democracy, pluralism and civil and human rights. He and his wife Beth raised two children and are proud residents of Hoboken, New Jersey.
Ricky is committed to Scouting’s mission of bringing together families and communities from every part of our great nation. He is thrilled to dedicate his time to this cause.
National Commissioner
Devang Desai is the 13th national commissioner of Scouting America — a position first held by Daniel Carter Beard, one of the founders of Scouting in the United States.
Like commissioners at all levels of Scouting, the national commissioner is an experienced Scouter who helps chartered organizations and unit leaders achieve the aims of Scouting. Desai has done much over the years to further the positive impact Scouting America’s programs have in the lives of youth through character and leadership development. His commitment to young people is evident through his service, leadership, and support for Scouting.
Desai is a Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, and Silver Buffalo awards recipient as well as a National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award honoree. He has served in numerous roles on the South Florida Council executive board, the National Alumni Relations Committee, and the Southern Region board. Elected to the National Executive Board in 2018, Desai has provided his leadership and expertise on multiple committees, including the People and Culture Committee, the Enterprise Risk Management and Audit Committee, the National Executive Committee, and the Bankruptcy Task Force.
Within the Order of the Arrow, he has led as an advisor on the local level and the national level at events like the National Order of the Arrow Conference. In 2016, he was appointed to the National Order of the Arrow Committee and is currently a member of the OA’s Steering Committee.
As a partner in the Miami office of Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, Desai has two decades of experience as a civil trial attorney in defending both individuals and corporations in areas of commercial disputes, product liability, and catastrophic claims. He’s also named as a Super Lawyer in Florida and has served as the president of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association. He is rated AV Preeminent by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, a facilitator of a peer review rating process for legal ability and general ethical standards.
Desai follows recent national commissioners W. Scott Sorrels (2020-2024), Ellie Morrison (2018-2020) and Charles W. Dahlquist II (2016-2018)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Roger A. Krone is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Scouting America.
Most recently, Krone, who is an Eagle Scout, was former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Leidos. With approximately $14.4 billion in annual revenue and 47,000 employees worldwide, Leidos is a recognized global leader in solving important problems in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. Before being named CEO of Leidos in July 2014, Krone held leadership roles at some of the most prominent organizations in aerospace for nearly 45 years.
In 2016, Krone engineered Leidos’ acquisition of Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions business, creating a leader in government IT services and solutions with the potential to solve some of the greatest technology challenges. Under his strategic vision, the organization invested in critical internal research and development efforts. He was the driving force behind the company’s culture of innovation and the environment shaped to inspire employees to create innovative technology solutions that respond to customers’ challenges.
Before joining Leidos, Krone served as president of Network and Space Systems for The Boeing Company, where he provided calculated direction for approximately 15,000 employees in 35 states and 12 countries. His organization provided integrated technologies to government and commercial customers. He joined McDonnell Douglas in 1992 serving as director of financial planning, vice president and treasurer after a 14-year career at General Dynamics, where he held positions in program management, engineering, and finance.
Krone is a member of the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees, the Board of the National Air and Space Museum, Lear board, WETA Public Television and Radio in Washington board, past Executive Committee of Professional Services Council (PSC), past member of the Executive Committee of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), and past member of the CEO Business Roundtable.
Krone earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. A Six Sigma Green Belt, Krone is both a licensed commercial pilot and a certified public accountant. He is also a Member of Maryland Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission, a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
