In the winter of 1966 a New England family moved from Bermuda to Castine, from green grass to deep snow and cold wind off Penobscot Bay. One member of the family arrived to become Commandant of Midshipmen. Another memberwas an 8th-grade boy whose life was changed forevermore by that move.
Bill Brennan, who left Castine in the 1970s for college and a career, returned in 2010 to become the fourteenth president of the Academy (which includes a commission as Rear Admiral in the U.S. Merchant Marine Service).
Dr. Brennan holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine, an M.A. in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maine.
His professional career includes senior legislative staff for then-Congressman John R. (Jock) McKernan, Jr.; commissioner of Marine Resources for Governor McKernan; consulting for private and public sector clients in natural resource, energy and environmental areas; administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); and, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
Maine Maritime Academy is a state college founded in 1941 for the purpose of perpetuating Maine’s seafaring tradition and contributing to the nation’s wellbeing. Maine Maritime has since grown to over 1,000 students, become co-educational, expanded its academic programs, and is widely recognized as one of the best public colleges in America and one of best-value educations available. Its enviable job placement rate is over 90% within 90 days of graduation.
What is the future vision for Maine Maritime? How will it get there? Learn more about these questions and others this Friday.