State Maritime Academies Urge Action on Sexual Assault in the Maritime Industry
CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy President William J. Brennan joined state maritime academy presidents in signing a letter to the acting administrator of MARAD (the Maritime Administration, an agency of the Department of Transportation) condemning acts of sexual assault and harassment in the maritime industry. In doing so they also articulated their unequivocal support for survivors. The presidents asked MARAD to work with them to support systemic change around the issue of sexual assault in the maritime industry.
The full text of the letter is included below:
October 14, 2021
Ms. Lucinda Lessley
Acting Administrator
U.S. Maritime Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Administrator Lessley:
We write to you today on the subject of the recently reported sexual assault of a USMMA cadet while onboard her sea-year assignment. On behalf of the State Maritime Academies, we condemn the behaviors reported in this incident, and we stand in solidarity with victims and survivors of sexual assault in the maritime industry and beyond. Further, we fully acknowledge that this incident is not a single academy incident, nor is it a single shipping company incident, nor a single shipping union incident. This is a matter for the entire maritime industry to take action against immediately.
Our nation’s maritime academies – federal and state – are deeply committed to working with the entire maritime industry to actively address sexual harassment and assault. We all have much work to do to fully address and implement the systemic changes necessary to create change within our maritime culture. We stand ready to join our industry partners in a dialogue about how we can best work together to proactively educate about and prevent sexual harassment, violence, and assault in the maritime industry. We urge the US Maritime Administration to take the lead on this matter and offer our full support to be part of the solution. We look forward to hearing from you on next steps in this important matter.
Sincerely,
RADM William J. Brennan, Ph.D.
President
Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME
RADM Gerard P. Achenbach, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
Traverse City, MI
RADM Michael A. Alfultis, USMS, Ph.D.
President
State University of New York Maritime College
Bronx, NY
RADM Thomas A. Cropper
President
California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA
RADM Francis X. McDonald, LPD
President
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA
RADM Michael Fossum
Chief Operating Officer
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Galveston, TX
Latest MMA News
- Maine Maritime Academy Search Committee Announces Formal Launch of Presidential SearchCastine, ME, Tuesday, August 20, 2024 – Wayne Norton, Chairman of the Maine Maritime Academy Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee are excited to announce that they have selected RPA Inc., a nationally recognized executive search firm which marks the formal launch of their Presidential search. RPA Inc. is one of the leading […]
- Maine Maritime Academy and ORBIS, Inc. Showcase Inaugural Naval Shipyard Institute Workforce Development ProgramCASTINE, Maine, Wednesday, August 7 — Today, Maine Maritime Academy and ORBIS, Inc., a Portsmouth, NH-based defense contractor, hosted an event on campus highlighting the progress of the inaugural Naval Shipyard Institute workforce development program, offering a tour of the training cohorts, and providing the opportunity to interact with MMA leadership and faculty. Representatives from […]
- The Historic Schooner Bowdoin Successfully Completes Eight-Week, 4,500- Mile Arctic Voyage Crossing North of the 70th ParallelCASTINE, Maine, Friday, July 26 — Today, the historic schooner Bowdoin, the flagship of Maine Maritime Academy’s sailing fleet, arrived at her home port in Castine, Maine after a successful, eight-week Arctic voyage of more than 4,500 miles, having accomplished the goal of crossing north of the 70th Parallel. The schooner Bowdoin, designated a National […]
- Maine Maritime Academy Professors Awarded a Maine Community Foundation Grant to Study PFAS in the Marine EnvironmentCASTINE, Maine, June 14, 2024 — Maine Maritime Academy, one of the United States’ foremost maritime colleges offering degrees in engineering, science, management, and transportation, announces that Dr. Carey Friedman, Associate Professor of Marine Science and Dr. LeAnn Whitney, Associate Professor of Oceanography, were recently awarded a $77,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation in […]
- Maine Maritime Academy Announces $50,000 Grant from L.L.Bean in Support of the Schooner Bowdoin’s 2024 Voyage to the ArcticBOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine, Tuesday, May 28, 2024 —Today, Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), one of the United States’ foremost maritime colleges offering degrees in engineering, science, management, and transportation, announced a $50,000 grant from L.L.Bean in support of the schooner Bowdoin’s return voyage to the Arctic for the first time since 2008. In celebration of the […]
- MMA Announces the Appointment of an Interim PresidentOn Tuesday, May 21, MMA President Jerry Paul announced his intent to retire this summer due to extenuating family circumstances. The MMA Board of Trustees assembled a special meeting today to finalize a transition plan for presidential leadership at the Academy. In a message to the community, Board Chair Wayne Norton said, “Through many of […]