Connaughton Keynote MMA Summit

Massachusetts Maritime Academy announced Sean T. Connaughton as the keynote speaker for the Maritime Education Summit to be held April 15 -17, 2009.  The summit is focused on Trends and Pedagogy for the Future and will be held at the Academy’s campus in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts.

Mr. Connaughton served as the U.S. Maritime Administrator until 2009 and recently joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) as Corporate Vice President for Government Affairs. In this role, Mr. Connaughton is the bureau’s chief connection with senior government officials and works to build relationships with those who influence policy on maritime safety and classification matters. In joining the Maritime Education Summit at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Mr. Connaughton will share his perspective on the future of maritime education garnered from his roles as a public servant, an industry leader, and an advocate for the maritime industry. Mr. Connaughton holds an honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Administration from MMA.

The Maritime Education Summit will promote discussion and networking among maritime educators and administrators, industry leaders, and regulatory personnel.  As maritime academies prepare the next generation of maritime professionals for careers at sea and ashore, there are many critical issues to consider in charting a course for the future.  This conference will seek to address the most important of these issues.

The Maritime Education Summit will run concurrently with the spring meeting of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC).  Established by the Commandant of the Coast Guard in 1992, the 19-member group advises the Secretary of Homeland Security on issues affecting and regulating merchant mariners.  Attendees of the Maritime Education Summit are welcome to attend the meeting.

For more information on the Maritime Education Summit: Trending and Pedagogy for the Future, visit:www.maritime.edu/educationsummit