Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS December 2009
Waterfront News
M A I N E M A R I T I M E A C A D E M Y N E W S
BRENNAN SELECTED AS NEXT of the community where I grew up.” and a B.S. degree in Marine Biology from the success to serve as inspiration to current
PRESIDENT OF MMA Brennan was selected from a candidate University of Maine. He is also the recipient students and their fellow alumni to strive for
CASTINE - The Maine Maritime Academy pool of more than 50 applicants resulting from of an honorary Doctor of Science degree from personal excellence. The 2009 inductees
(MMA) Board of Trustees has selected Dr. a nationwide executive search. The search the University of Rhode Island. He is a Senior joined 54 distinguished alumni honorees
William J. Brennan of Falmouth, Maine, to be was conducted by a 9-member team ap- Fellow at the University of Massachusetts/ with a framed photograph and biographical
the next president of Maine Maritime Acad- pointed by the college’s Board of Trustees Boston McCormack Graduate School of sketch permanently displayed in the
emy. The announcement came shortly after following the mid-February 2009 retirement Policy Studies, a Senior Scholar at the Univer- college’s Wall of Honor located in the Kresge
the adjournment of a regular quarterly meet- announcement of long-time president, sity of Maine School of Law, and a Presiden- Room of the Harold Alfond Student Center.
ing of the Board of Trustees held in Castine. Leonard H. Tyler. The presidential search tial Professor of Environmental Policy with Inductees are selected from nominations
According to Victoria Larson, Chair of the team consisted of college Trustee, alumni, joint appointment at the University of made at large by alumni and the public. Selec-
Board of Trustees, it is anticipated that faculty, staff and student representatives. Maine’s School of Marine Sciences and the tion criteria prescribes that candidates be a
Brennan would take office sometime in May The Board of Trustees invited Brennan and Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center. He has graduate of Maine Maritime Academy and
2010. fellow presidential candidate, Jeffrey W. served as the Sawyer Professor of Ocean own, be a president, chief executive officer, or
“Dr. Brennan’s professional commit- Monroe, to meet with them earlier this week Studies at Maine Maritime Academy. chair of the board of directors of a company;
ment to national oversight and policy to to conduct final interviews. Each candidate Dr. Brennan has been selected to fill the or have been elected to the office of mayor,
protect, advance, and maximize the world’s had also visited the campus earlier this fall anticipated vacancy of president at Maine governor, U.S. House of Representatives or
oceans is evident and impressive,” said and participated in forums with various con- Maritime Academy following the nearly 15 Senate; or have achieved the rank of flag
Larson. “We are fortunate that his enthusi- stituent groups. year tenure of current MMA President officer in a branch of the military; or have
asm for the sea and its creatures has trans- Brennan, who was raised in Castine, is an Leonard Tyler. “President Tyler’s retirement achieved significant prominence or lifetime
lated into a career of service and an interest authority on environmental policy relating to announcement spoke volumes about his ser- achievement in a chosen field. Advanced
in furthering that service through Maine oceans, the atmosphere and maritime issues. vice to the Academy over the years,” said education, professional awards and honors,
Maritime Academy. His in-depth under- He has served as the Assistant Secretary of Larson. “It was well-planned, considerate, community service, and voluntary service to
standing of marine environmentalism, inter- the U.S. Department of Commerce for Oceans and most of all, focused on the needs of the Maine Maritime Academy are also consid-
national maritime based trade and commerce, and Atmosphere, as Administrator of the college. He has been a strong and popular ered for selection. The annual selection pro-
and commercial fisheries provides a strong U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric leader among our students, faculty, and staff, cess is carried out by a committee comprised
platform for leadership. Dr. Brennan has dem- Administration (NOAA), a $4 billion federal and that is not an easy accomplishment. of members of the Wall of Honor.
onstrated an ability to engage and inspire our agency with 12,500 employees, and as Com- While expanding programming and facilities, This year’s Wall of Honor induction
students, faculty, and staff.” Brennan would missioner of the Maine Department of Marine increasing the number of women students on recognized the career accomplishments of
succeed Leonard Tyler who has served as Resources, a cabinet-level state agency. In campus, and leading the college to consecu- two distinguished alumni, John W.
president of Maine Maritime Academy since addition, Brennan served for several years as tive years of maximum enrollment, he has Fairbanks, MMA Class of 1952, and Douglas
1995. the Director of the U. S. Climate Change galvanized this organization and a genera- W. MacKay, M.D., MMA Class of 1947.
“I am humbled to be selected to lead the Science Program, managing the government- tion around seeing Maine Maritime Acad- John W. Fairbanks, technology devel-
Maine Maritime Academy at this time in its supported research of 13 federal agencies emy to global recognition as a leader in mari- opment manager at the U.S. Department of
proud history,” Brennan said. “I am honored and White House Offices. He began his ca- time education. As Trustees, we couldn’t Energy, was recognized for his career contri-
to give back to the college, which has given reer at sea in the merchant marine, working in have asked for more.” butions to the fields of engineering and ther-
so much to me and to my family over so many both the deck and engine departments, and Tyler has been president of the Castine- moelectric energy. A former program man-
years. I am gratified to have an opportunity to as a fisherman in Maine’s commercial fisher- based maritime college since March of 1995. ager at the U.S. Department of Energy, and
help advance the mission of the Academy to ies. He currently holds the second longest term program engineer at the Naval Ship Engineer-
prepare young women and men to become Brennan earned a Ph.D. degree in Ecol- as president in the college’s history, placing ing Center, Fairbanks is noted for initiating
the global ocean leaders of tomorrow. And I ogy and Environmental Sciences at the Uni- immediately behind the 20-year presidency the first vehicular application of thermoelec-
am thrilled to move back to the Town of versity of Maine, an M.A. degree in Marine of Rear Adm. Edward A. Rodgers who served tric while serving as a Power System Manager
Castine and to once again become a member Affairs from the University of Rhode Island, from 1964 to 1984. at the NASA-Goddard Space Center.
In Tyler’s announcement he noted his Throughout his distinguished engi-
career commitment to the college, having neering career, Fairbanks has received nu-
served MMA for nearly 40 years, and said he merous commendations for his academic
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has a fond sentimental attachment to the work. He is a two-time award winner of the
HE BOAT SCHOOL
college. He emphasized his firm intention to Association of Scientists & Engineers pre-
turn the college over to a new president with sented him with their best technical paper. He
its current strong enrollment, an international has also served on multiple occasions as the
America’s oldest boatbuilding school reputation for excellence, and multiple pros- Invited Plenary Speaker at the European
pects for growth and maturation in academic Conference on Thermoelectrics and as the
and research areas. As president, his admin- Invited Plenary Speaker at the International
istration has been highlighted by the acqui- Thermoelectric Conference. His work has
sition of a state-of-the-art training ship, by been recognized through NASA’s Apollo
record enrollment, and by the completion of Achievement Award and the Astronomy
a $22 million capital campaign, the most exten- Spacecraft Team Award of the NASA
sive ever conducted by a maritime college. Goddard Spaceflight Center. He is the past
The Boat School, located at Maine’s Marine
MMA TO HONOR ITS BEST AND recipient of the Distinguished Service Award
Technology Center in Eastport, offers di-
BRIGHTEST of the American Society of Mechanical Engi-
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Maine Maritime Academy honored its neers and Maine Maritime Academy’s Out-
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best and brightest at a ceremony held on the standing Alumni Award.
Marine Composites.
college campus in mid-November. The col- Fairbanks earned B.S. degrees in engi-
lege formally recognized alumni accomplish- neering at Maine Maritime Academy and at
~ Since 1969 ~
With waterfront training in
ment, student academic success, and out- Stanford University. He holds an M.S. degree
standing faculty at its annual Celebration of in mechanical engineering from the Univer-
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Achievement on November 12. In total, 25 sity of Santa Clara. He is a retired Captain of
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individuals associated with the college were the U.S. Navy Reserve.
at the Maine
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recognized for their outstanding accomplish- Douglas W. MacKay, former chairman
Boatbuilders Show
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ments. According to MMA President of the department of orthopedics at the Uni-
in Portland on March
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Leonard Tyler, several recognition ceremo- versity Medical Center, Lafayette, La., was
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nies are held jointly each year to foster mutual honored for his accomplishments and contri-
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respect, admiration, and inspiration among butions in field of orthopedic medicine. He
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all honorees. The ceremonies included the has been recognized as a leader in the treat-
our programs in
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college’s Wall of Honor induction, Scheel ment and correction of childhood deformities
boatbuilding and
Scholars and ABS Scholars presentations, including clubfeet and scoliosis. He was the
marine composites, as well
and an Excellence in Teaching award. They inventor of various medical and surgical de-
as our special highlight the interrelationship of alumni pro- vices to assist with related procedures, in-
For more information on The Boat School,
summer programs. fessional and civic success, student curios- cluding a device and safe surgical approach
call (207) 853-2518.
ity and scholarship, and inspired teaching to address severe back pain, and a device to
and academic commitment, respectively. relieve pain and gain early motion following
Initiated in 1997, the college’s Wall of total knee replacement.
The Boat School is an affiliate of
Honor was created to recognize alumni, who, Prior to his chairmanship of the Medical
through achievements in professional and Center, he was engaged as private practitio-
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civic life, have brought honor to themselves ner with General Orthopaedics, for more than


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and to Maine Maritime Academy. The Wall 5 years in the same area. Dr. MacKay concur-
was established not only to pay tribute to
Continued on Page 19.
their achievements, but also to allow their
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