Forrest David Mathews (born December 6, 1935) served as the 11th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1975 to 1977, during the administration of President Gerald R. Ford. He also served two nonconsecutive terms as the president of the University of Alabama. Since the 1980s he has been president and chief executive officer of the Kettering Foundation. He is the author of several books on democratic practice and education.