Richard Gurnon News

A vote by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) has confirmed Francis X. McDonald has been selected as the 38th president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. McDonald, a 1985 graduate of the school, has worked on campus since 1994. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of the nation's oldest continuously operating maritime academy and has earned degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern University. McDonald topped an impressive field of five that included Coast Guard Captain Melissa Bert, retired Coast Guard Captain Kurt Colella and retired Navy Admirals Michael Nowakowski and Ann Rondeau.

EVP Fran McDonald tops a field of five; choice still must be approved by Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Pending a confirmation vote by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE), Francis X. McDonald has been selected as the 38th president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. McDonald, a 1985 graduate of the school, has worked on campus since 1994. Currently, he serves as Executive Vice President of the nation's oldest continuously operating maritime academy and has earned degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern University. McDonald topped an impressive field of five that included Coast Guard Captain Melissa Bert, retired Coast Guard Captain Kurt Colella and retired Navy Admirals Michael Nowakowski and Ann Rondeau.

Passenger vessel safety isn’t just a third world problem. It’s a worthy challenge to take up in 2015 and at the same time, a completely sobering way to ring in the New Year. As the clock ticks down on yet another year, I couldn’t help but take note of the new cruise ship passenger drill requirements, effective from 1 January. These rules involve heightened requirements for mustering of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure. Appropriately, the amended regulation in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea was adopted in 2013 in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident. This is intended to ensure that passengers undergo safety drills, including mustering at the lifeboat stations, before the ship departs or immediately on departure.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy is one of nine Massachusetts State Universities. Established in 1891, the academy now offers seven undergraduate and two master’s degrees. Approximately 50-60% of the undergraduates are enrolled in unlimited USCG Merchant Marine License preparatory programs. 1,350 students are members of the Regiment of Cadets residing on campus. The academy operates a training vessel (T.S. Kennedy) used to acquire sea service for the cadets. The academy also has an 87 ton auxiliary training vessel (Ranger) used during the academic semesters for coastal navigation.

Next year, developers hope to start building offshore wind turbines in the U.S., which is already a leader in on-land wind generation. As turbines spin off the coast in a dozen other countries, particularly the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, global offshore wind capacity has expanded nearly six-fold since 2006. Most of these installations are in shallow water though winds are stronger out further. If the U.S. is to have offshore turbines, many residents want them distant enough so they can’t be seen or heard.

Will the American University System Follow in the Wake of our Merchant Fleet? Everyone who came to America knew that the most reliable path to financial success and status was hard work and higher education. That formula even worked for those born here. The rush to higher education started in 1947 when the GI Bill sent millions of Americans to college. In fact, for years, almost half of all those entering college were veterans (note: Merchant Mariners were not included in that benefit.) Higher education was seen by the public as both affordable and valuable.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) is pleased to announce that its Marine Safety and Environmental Protection program has received a $25,000 marine conservation grant from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s Ocean Fund for a second year in a row. The Academy will use its award to underwrite cooperative education opportunities in training five future maritime safety and environmental officers. On their way to becoming future stewards of our oceans, these cadets will spend their cooperative program aboard cruise ships and commercial ships as assistants to the environmental officers. “We are proud to continue our collaborations with the Academy’s cooperative training program for maritime safety and environmental officers. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

According to the AP the Mass. state Board of Higher Education reversed the firing of the president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, who was fired by the school's trustees earlier this month with little explanation. The panel roundly criticized the Dec. 4 firing of Admiral Richard Gurnon before voting unanimously to undo it. It was the first time the state board had used its power to reverse the firing of a state college president. Gurnon, a 27-year veteran of the Buzzards Bay academy, had served two years as acting president and six months as president when he was dismissed in a 9-1 vote. Gurnon said he was given an ultimatum — resign or be fired — but never an explanation for his ouster. Trustees said they fired Gurnon because he had a combative relationship with them.