Vice Admiral Michelle J. Howard, the first African-American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy, told the 225 men and women graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point on Saturday that America was depending on them to keep its waters safe from enemy attacks.
“America is a maritime nation. Throughout times of peace and war, the graduates of the Merchant Marine Academy have served their country well on the seas, in public and private service,” Howard said during her keynote speech at the academy, located at 300 Steamboat Road.
Howard, the U.S. deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategies, praised the graduates for choosing to serve their country despite the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Nigeria.
“They see these challenges and yet they choose to step forward anyway,” Howard said. “I congratulate them on their accomplishments and thank them for their commitment to service and excellence.”
The academy’s class of 2014, whose members come from 43 states and three foreign countries, received a bachelor’s degree, a merchant marine officer license from the U.S. Coast Guard and an Officer’s Commission in the U.S. Navy or other branch of the military, academy officials said.
Graduates can choose to work five years in the maritime industry and serve eight years in any reserve unit of the armed forces or serve five years of active duty in any branch of the armed forces, according to academy officials.
During the commencement exercises, 29 graduates were sworn in as officers in the Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and Army, as well as three in the Army Reserves and one in the Air National Guard, academy officials said.
“I am especially proud of these new maritime leaders and am certain that they will continue to make us proud as they embark on a lifetime of service,” Academy Superintendent Rear Admiral James A. Helis said. “2014, this is your day. Revel in it.”
Graduates were also praised by Deputy Secretary of Transportation Victor M. Mendez.
“These young men and women have worked hard in the classroom and at sea and are now ready to assume positions of leadership in every branch of the U.S. military,” Mendez said. “I congratulate them on their accomplishments and thank them for their commitment to service and excellence.”
The academy is overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Valedictorian Connor B. McGowan, who graduated with a 3.905 grade point average, told his fellow graduates to find “propellers and anchors” in their lives.
“Without them, we tend to drift,” McGowan said.
Ryan Raffo, the president of the class of 2014, said his propeller and anchor throughout the past four years were his classmates.
“The greatest asset that Kings Point has given me is the class of 2014,” Raffo said.
After receiving their diplomas, the midshipmen were assigned the rank of ensign and ceremoniously threw their hats into the air.
