James A Helis News

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) will celebrate 75 years since initial dedication in 1943, at homecoming this weekend. Events scheduled include a 75th anniversary dinner, the season’s first home football game for the 2-0 Mariners, a parade by the Regiment of Midshipmen, and the ceremony of Beating Retreat.“We are pleased to welcome alumni classes, families and friends for a jam-packed homecoming weekend at USMMA, especially the 75th anniversary events,” said George Rhynedance…

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) said its Bachelor of Science degree programs in Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management, and Marine Engineering Systems have been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. The accreditation assures the academic programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies…

Today, the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point issued its new strategic plan providing guidance and direction for the near-term future of the Academy.The plan, entitled The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Strategic Plan 2018-2023: Navigating Towards the Future Together, describes strategic priorities that will guide the institution for the next five years and beyond, including enriching educational programs; improving institutional culture; infrastructure planning…

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) welcomed 280, Class of 2022 “plebe candidates” for initial training today. The nearly 20-day orientation period known as Indoctrination, or Indoc, teaches plebe candidates the basics of maritime and regimental life at USMMA. Training will emphasize military discipline, daily regimental routine, physical fitness, basic seamanship, and an introduction to college-level academics. The incoming Class of 2022, consists of 280 plebe candidates, representing 45 states and Panama.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point graduated 229 new Merchant Marine and Military Officers as part of its Class of 2016 commencement ceremony today. The keynote speaker, Gen. Darren W. McDew, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), gave the commencement address before a crowd of more than 2,200, including graduates, family members and representatives from the federal government, U.S. military and maritime industry. “Your craft now is leadership,” said McDew. This year’s graduates represent 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the three foreign countries: Republic Korea, Republic of Panama and Malaysia. Superintendent, Rear Adm. James A.

Dr. Shashi N. Kumar, Academic Dean at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), has accepted a position to serve as Deputy Associate Administrator and National Coordinator for Maritime Education and Training at the headquarters of the Maritime Administration (MARAD). Kumar will leave USMMA in October to take up his new role at MARAD, where he will lead its efforts to bolster the nation’s pool of merchant mariners and halp to address the needs of State and Federal maritime academies.

On Saturday, August 8, The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point welcomed 243 “plebe candidates” of the Class of 2019 into the Regiment of Midshipmen as they took USMMA’s Corps of Cadets Oath administrated by Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Ph.D., Superintendent of USMMA, during the Acceptance Day Ceremony and Parade. They were then sworn in as midshipmen in the U.S. Navy Reserve by Rear Admiral Mark R, Whitney, Deputy Commander, Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations Naval Sea Systems Command.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) today welcomed its incoming Class of 2019, consisting of 255 plebe candidates representing 46 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. With 50 female candidates, the incoming class has the highest percentage of young women to enter the Academy in its history. Upon arrival, the future midshipmen began a rigorous, 20-day regimen of academic, military, and physical training known as Indoctrination, which will transform them from recent high school graduates into future leaders and licensed maritime officers. “The members of this incoming class represent some of our nation’s best and brightest, with almost a third having graduated in the top 10% of their class,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Superintendent.

The class of 2014 from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), which included 225 new Merchant Marine and Military Officers, graduated in Kings Point, New York on Saturday. Vice Admiral Michelle J. Howard, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy, delivered the commencement address to over 2,300 graduates, family members and representatives from the federal government, U.S. military and maritime industry. "America is a maritime nation," said Howard.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point informs it recently hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Mallory Pier. The pier was completely reconstructed as part of USMMA’s overall $71 million dollar Capital Improvement Plan. Faculty, staff and guests were welcomed by the Regimental Band’s Fanfare Trumpets, who were then followed by a greeting from Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Superintendent. Helis thanked those who played a role in the pier’s completion, including the Capital Improvement Team, engineers, administrators, the Waterfront staff and the contractor, Russell Marine. “The new Mallory Pier is a major accomplishment and a concrete (pun intended) symbol of our ongoing efforts to renovate and modernize the Academy’s facilities…

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) is America’s second best public regional college in the North and third best regional college according to the 2014 U.S. News and World Report rankings. USMMA has moved up the rankings from last year for undergraduate engineering programs in America, and is now ranked the 22nd best. “Our vision for the Academy is to be the world leader in maritime education,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Ph.D., superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The U. S. Merchant Marine Academy was the first federal service academy to admit women in 1974. The minority percentage of midshipmen has steadily risen each year. The Class of 2017 is 23 percent minority, compared with 14.4 percent in the Class of 2013.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy welcomed its incoming Class of 2017, consisting of 238 plebe candidates from across the country. Upon arrival, the Congressionally-nominated future Midshipmen began a rigorous, 18-day regimen of academic, military and physical training known as Indoctrination (INDOC), their first step toward becoming future leaders and licensed maritime officers. “The new plebe candidates make up one of the most diverse classes in Academy history,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Ph.D., superintendent at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. During their first day of INDOC, plebe candidates received their first berthing assignments, were issued uniforms, received their first military haircut and learned to salute in their first official formation.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) graduated 201 new maritime leaders as part of its Class of 2013 commencement ceremony. The keynote speaker, General William M. Fraser III, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), gave the commencement address before a crowd of more than 2,000 including special guest U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, graduates, family members and representatives from the federal government, armed forces and maritime industry. “The U.S.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) today announced that Gen. William M. Fraser III, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), has been chosen as this year's commencement speaker to be held at USMMA on Monday, June 17, 2013. “The United States Merchant Marine Academy is honored to have General Fraser as our commencement speaker. He epitomizes the ideals of our Academy. He is an outstanding role-model for our graduates who are about to embark on a lifetime of service and leadership,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Ph.D., superintendent.

Construction work has begun on the United States Merchant Marine Academy's new Mallory Pier. Construction crews from Russell Marine have had a barge on-site in Hague Basin since early January focused on the first phase of the project, which required preparing the old pier to help support the new construction. Last week the first pre-cast concrete piles arrived by barge, and after much anticipation, the first test pile of the new pier was driven into the Long Island Sound seabed. Seven more test piles will be driven in the seabed this week and measurements of their holding capacity taken.

Department of Transportation Secures New Training Vessel for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Department’s Maritime Administration has secured a new training vessel for the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. In an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Academy will receive a space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ship, the MV Liberty Star, which will provide a hands-on learning environment on which midshipmen can train using modern navigational technology…