Captain M. J. Hight ’94
Major at MMA: Nautical Science with Business Management Minor
Extracurricular involvement while at MMA: Basketball
Employer: Saint Lawrence Seaway Pilots / Principal, Global HSSE Solutions, Inc.
Where has your career taken you since graduation?
Upon graduation from MMA I immediately began sailing as a third mate with American Maritime Officers. I continued sailing for AMO until achieving my twenty year retirement in 2013. Over the course of the twenty years, I sailed six years as chief mate and eight years as Master on various vessel types. After retiring from active sailing, I formed my own consultancy in the fields of P&I, casualty, compliance, expert witness work, and security. While actively involved in the consultancy I accepted a position as a Saint Lawrence Seaway Pilot, providing pilotage on the American section of the Saint Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, and its ports. The shipping season in the Great Lakes runs from approximately April 1 – December 31. During this time I sparingly take on consulting projects as a surveyor or expert witness in various legal cases. In addition to the above, I work as an adjunct instructor of STCW approved courses at Bluewater in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
What is your current title and what are your responsibilities?
Saint Lawrence Seaway Pilot, providing safe and efficient pilotage in District 1 of the Great Lakes. Independent consultant in various maritime related fields.
What piece of advice would you give to a student going into your field?
Be RELENTLESS. Utilize your training and never stop working toward your end goal, whatever that may be.
How did the MMA experience prepare you for both your prior positions and your current career focus?
MMA taught me how to work and not be afraid to work. MMA grads have a solid history and reputation of being knowledgeable and hard workers. Keep this in mind when you enter the workforce, and carry the torch high.
What are your goals for the future?
To continue to work as a pilot, consultant, and instructor. In addition, I’d like to attain a Master’s degree in a maritime related field.
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 […]
