Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, met with the President of Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), Jerry Paul, in her Washington, D.C., office.
During their meeting, Senator Collins and President Paul spoke about some of the shoreside infrastructure improvements that are needed in preparation for MMA to receive its new training vessel. President Paul also shared his plans to increase collaboration with the University of Maine and Maine’s community college system.
“I enjoyed meeting with President Paul again to discuss his vision for the future of MMA and his plans to build on the world-class curriculum that MMA offers,” said Senator Collins. “As the new president and proud graduate of MMA, I know Jerry is as eager as I am to see a new training vessel delivered in 24 months. As a leader of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I look forward to continuing to work with Jerry and support MMA’s mission to help the next generation of students to excel in the maritime industry and a variety of other valuable trades.”
In 2019, Senator Collins secured $300 million for the construction and acquisition of a new training vessel for MMA to replace the college’s existing training ship that is nearing the end of its serviceable life. This ship is used to provide rigorous instruction and crucial maritime training, and it is indispensable for preparing students to excel in the Navy, the Coast Guard, and the maritime industry.
Earlier this year, Senator Collins successfully reversed a U.S. Department of Transportation proposal to designate the home port for MMA’s ship as Norfolk, Virginia. As a result, the training vessel, the State of Maine, will proudly bear the designation of Castine, Maine, as its home port.
Mr. Paul graduated from MMA in 1989 and became the college’s 15th president this May.
Contact:
Susan Collins | U.S. Senator for Maine
Annie Clark/Christopher Knight
202-224-2523
Latest MMA News
- Maine Maritime Academy Announces Selection of Craig Johnson as 16th PresidentFormer Interim President and Chief Operating Officer Selected by Board of Trustees following National Search Castine, ME, Wednesday March 19, 2025 – Today, the Board of Trustees of Maine Maritime Academy announced the appointment of Craig Johnson ’91 of Castine, Maine as its 16th President following a formal search which launched last fall. Mr. Johnson […]
- Maine Maritime Academy Schooner Bowdoin Master, Captain Alexander Peacock, Receives Sail Trainer of the Year Award from Tall Ships AmericaPeacock and Crew Members to Discuss the Bowdoin’s 2024 Arctic Voyage at Gundalow Company Event on March 8 CASTINE, Maine, Tuesday, March 4, 2025 – Schooner Bowdoin Master, Captain Alexander Peacock, recently accepted the 2024 Sail Trainer of the Year Award from Tall Ships America in recognition of his “contribution to sail training through the […]
- Maine Maritime Academy Interim President Craig Johnson ’91 Reappointed to US Department of Transportation Advisory CommitteeJohnson to Serve Second Term on Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee CASTINE, Maine, Thursday, February 6, 2025 – Maine Maritime Academy is pleased to announce that Interim President Craig Johnson ’91 has been reappointed to the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC). Interim President Johnson is the only President […]
- Maritime Plastic WorksCASTINE, Maine, Monday, January 27, 2025 — Maine Maritime Academy, in collaboration with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, will host a race of model vessels built by groups of 7th and 8th graders from Adams School and Penobscot Community School. The remote-controlled boats, based on the original design by MMA alumnus David Philbrook ’82, are constructed of […]
- Maine Maritime Academy Search Committee Announces Formal Launch of Presidential SearchCASTINE, Maine, 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 […]
