Meet New 1995 Society Inductee Robert Ordway!

Meet New 1995 Society Inductee Robert Ordway!

Robert Ordway is a seasoned policy advisor, entrepreneur, and civic leader whose career spans the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor to Indiana Governor Mike Braun, where he supports the Freedom & Opportunity Agenda and is a strategic liaison to multiple state secretaries. Before this, he held key roles in the U.S. Senate, including Deputy Legislative Director and Senior Policy Advisor to then-Senator Braun, where he specialized in issues related to budget and tax, served as the coalition’s lead, and managed a team of junior policy staff.

Ordway’s early D.C. career included influential work at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as the Director of Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development, where he led coalitions in multiple states and facilitated the development of model legislation on labor, transportation, and financial services. A Heritage Foundation Washington Scholars Fellow, he also completed fellowships with the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation, the American Conservative, and the Hoover Institution.

Beyond his policy work, Robert is a firm believer and practitioner of entrepreneurship. He founded Rusted Oak, an independent menswear boutique, and transitioned it into a custom clothing practice, combining his passion for style and business acumen. 

Committed to community service, Robert has served on numerous nonprofit boards and civic committees, including the Custom Tailors & Designers Association in New York City and the Indiana Society of Washington, D.C. He is a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, a lifetime member of both the NAACP and NRA, and an advocate for mentorship, leadership development, and economic empowerment.

A frequent public speaker and published writer, Robert has appeared in outlets such as Campaigns & Elections, MR Magazine, and Northwest Indiana Times, and spoken at events hosted by TEDx, American Moment, and Americans for Prosperity. He holds a BSBA in Finance and a Master’s in International Commerce and Policy from Valparaiso University.

Get to know Robert below!

What moment or opportunity in your life played the most significant part in getting you to where you are today?

I think my dad’s five-year battle with ALS as well as his southern agrarian parenting style (despite both of us growing up in steel country) gave me the grit and resiliency needed to overcome whatever adversity might come my way.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? I’m not sure if I believe in the concept of a career, but I will say that owning/operating an independent menswear retail business (then shutting it down) was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in life. I have a deep respect for anyone who ‘hangs their own shingle’ as an entrepreneur.

What piece of work or accomplishment are you most proud of?

Helping then-U.S. Senator Mike Braun create an entire federal budget and then putting it on the Senate floor for a vote was pretty neat. I did the work of several staffers, but trying to understand the complexities and mechanics of the budget was a humbling exercise in its own right.

In your words, what motivates your belief in freedom?

I believe in absolute truth, which includes an omniscient, omnipresent higher power. Given my years of research on free will, slavery, and other related issues, I am confident that the concept of human dignity serves as a core baseline for how we should approach most civil society and public policy issues. When you look at how Jesus operated back then, his ideas and actions were radical for the time but also timeless for the rest of us to eternity.

What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing America today?

As an ‘Elder Millennial’, I grew up with a bicycle, not a smartphone. I believe the increase in mental health issues can be mostly attributed to an unhealthy relationship with the ‘tech triad’ of high-speed internet + smart phones + social media. People en masse need to return to in-person relationships like we’ve practiced for thousands of years. If my dad were alive, he would say we need to spend more time in the woods.

What is the next big goal or project you’re working on? How can the AF community help?

My Substack, which is read by about 15,000, serves as a baseline to show book agents and publishers a proof of concept for my memoir. The goal would be to land a traditional publishing deal before the end of the year. AF can help by promoting my work throughout their network across the country and connecting me with opportunities to interview, give speeches, and the like.

What advice do you have for those who want to advance liberty and make a difference in our society?

For me, everything comes back to faith, family, and community. Today, everyone thinks pulling the levers of government is the only way to promote a cause, but I think a culture of liberty and freedom can be advanced through volunteerism in civil society, whether it is through the church or other non-profits and civic organizations. Start small and plant seeds behind you to get others engaged.

What are some hobbies/side gigs/secret skills no one knows about?

Well, a lot of my life is public-facing via social media so cycling, powerlifting and decade as a custom clothier are no secret. I guess one talent I have that is not shared often is growing up during the 90s,I learned how to do the voices of several characters on the various tv shows and cartoons that were on Nickelodeon at the time.

What are you watching/reading right now?

I recently rewatched Vikings on Netflix because I’m intrigued by the interactions (beyond war) of the Christians and pagans of the time. I always have too many books half-read at once but as background for my memoir, I continue to study both Black and white southern migration in the 20th century. Current reads are The Warmth of Other Suns and Appalachian Odyssey: Historical Perspectives on the Great Migration.

Last question: What does winning this award mean to you?

Well first, 1995 was one of the best years of my childhood so the name of the award feels personally fitting. When I arrived in D.C. eight years ago, the first after-hours event I attended was hosted by America’s Future. I found the members to be personally kind and welcoming but more importantly, principled. That inspired me to join the Writing Fellows program that Fall. This award is a reminder or perhaps confirmation that I continue to try and do the right thing when it comes to advancing the ideas of free markets, limited government, and personal responsibility. The award is only meaningful to me if it inspires others to take action in espousing those same values.