Ralph Staples ’71
Major at MMA: Marine Engineering
Extracurricular involvement while at MMA: Delta Company Commander, Football, Striker, Assistant to the Athletic Director for Intramural Sports
Employer: Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc., San Diego, CA
Where has your career taken you since graduation?
I spent 27 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Captain. During those years I did tours aboard two destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, and an aircraft carrier. My career included 11 years at sea before transitioning to an Engineering Duty Officer following graduate school, where I earned an MS in Mechanical Engineering. Ultimately, my final Navy job was as the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, in Bath, Maine, where I was responsible for design, engineering, and ship construction contracts at General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works.
What is your current title and what are your responsibilities?
I am currently a Senior Vice President, responsible for company business development, after having served as the Vice President of Engineering and Fleet Support Programs.
What piece of advice would you give to a student going into your field?
Maximize your learning experiences at MMA and look toward pursuing an advanced degree in engineering or business administration.
How did the MMA experience prepare you for both your prior positions and your current career focus?
The discipline of the regimental lifestyle and rigor of an engineering degree allowed me to overcome multiple challenges throughout my career.
What are your goals for the future?
I am at the end of my career, and looking forward to retirement. As well as part-time work, giving back to my church and community, and providing learning experiences for students at the college level as an adjunct professor.
Latest Alumni at Work
- Benjamin Moll ’11Benjamin Moll ’11 Major at MMA: SVO Employer: Poling & Cutler Marine Transportation Where has your career taken you since graduation? My career has taken me from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northeast and a few places in between. I’ve been with five companies, and worked on Tugs and OSVs of various sizes. What is […]
- Warren Hamm ’49Warren Hamm ’49 Major at MMA: Engineering Extracurricular involvement while at MMA: Mess Deck Master at Arms, Band, Drill Squad Employer: U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (retired) Where has your career taken you since graduation? Since graduation my career has taken me all over the world including Korea and Portugal where I lived for some time. I […]
- Victoria Cooper ’17Victoria Cooper ’17 Major at MMA: International Business & Logistics Extracurricular involvement while at MMA: Women’s Soccer, Women’s Lacrosse, SBLA Employer: Strategic Maintenance Solutions, Inc. (SMS) Where has your career taken you since graduation? Directly after graduation, I started working for SMS in the Gorham, Maine office. I travel quite a bit in this position. I’ve […]
- Jeffrey Stenberg ’82Jeffrey Stenberg ’82 Major at MMA: Marine Engineering Extracurricular involvement while at MMA: APO, Summer Sailing Employer: William Kramer & Associates Where has your career taken you since graduation? I have lived in New Orleans, LA; Kobe, Japan; Sydney, Australia; Long Beach, CA; Paramus, NJ; Westbrook, CT; Southwick, MA; Frankfurt, Germany; Granby, MA; Waterville, ME; Edgecomb, […]
- Jeff Ivory ’95Jeff Ivory ’95 Major at MMA: Marine Engineering Technology Extracurricular involvement while at MMA: 3rd Class Striker Employer: Transocean Where has your career taken you since graduation? I joined Global Marine drilling in 1995, which through merger became part of Global Santa Fe in 2001, and part of Transocean in 2007. I have worked offshore in […]
- Peter Longley ’71Peter Longley ’71 Major at MMA: Marine Engineering Employer: Self-employed Where has your career taken you since graduation? After graduating in 1971, it took all of one week to get a job as 3rd Engineer on the Great Lakes with Interlake Steamship. There was an impending Steel Strike in August that year, so I went home […]
