Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (Marad) announced the designation of 27 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE). The CoE designation recognizes community colleges and training institutions that prepare students for careers in our nation’s maritime industry. These academic institutions are located in 16 states and one U.S. territory.
“Our collaboration with these institutions represents an important expansion of Mared’s role in supporting maritime education and will help form pathways to good-paying American jobs in our nation’s maritime industry,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a prepared statement.
Marad may now start working with the designated institutions to enter into cooperative agreements to help advance recruitment of students and faculty, enhance facilities, award student credit for military service, and potentially receive assistance in the form of surplus equipment or temporary use of Marad vessels.
Authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, the CoE program is designed to assist the maritime industry in gaining and sustaining a well-trained labor force while enhancing diversity and inclusion in the industry.
“The CoE designations recognize the high standard of maritime education and training provided by the designated community and technical colleges and maritime training centers. These institutions play vital roles in our nation’s maritime industry by providing the training and skills students need to begin and advance careers afloat and ashore,” said Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley.
Information regarding the CoE program and the application process was disseminated through Federal Register notices. Successful applicants include accredited community colleges, technical colleges, and maritime training centers under state supervision. A searchable, interactive map is available to provide information on each CoE designee. For additional information, please visit Centers of Excellence on the Marad website.
A complete list of Center of Excellence designees is as follows:
• ALASKA
Alaska Maritime Education Consortium (AMEC) which include five universities: University of Alaska located in Fairbanks, AK, University of Alaska Southeast at Juneau located in Juneau, AK, Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) located in Seward, AK, University of Alaska Anchorage located in Anchorage, AK, and University of Alaska Southeast at Ketchikan located in Ketchikan, AK.
• CALIFORNIA
Mira Costa Community College District (MCCCD) located in Oceanside, CA.
Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) located in Long Beach, CA.
Orange Coast College (OCC) located in Newport Beach, CA
• FLORIDA
Star Center (STAR) located in Dania Beach, FL.
College of the Florida Keys (CFK) located in Key West, FL.
• KENTUCKY
West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) located in Paducah, Kentucky
• LOUISIANA
Delgado Community College (DCC) located in New Orleans, LA.
• MARYLAND
Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) located in Arnold, MD.
MM&P Maritime Advancement, Training, Education, and Safety Program (MITAGS) located in Linthicum Heights, MD.
Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) located in Baltimore, MD.
• MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) located in Perkinston, MS.
Hinds Community College (HCC) located in Raymond, MS.
• NEW YORK
Kingsborough Community College (KBCC) located in Brooklyn, NY.
• NORTH CAROLINA
Carteret Community College (CarteretCC) located in Morehead City, NC.
Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) located in Wilmington, NC.
• OREGON
Clatsop Community College (ClatsopCC) located in Astoria, OR.
Pacific Northwest Maritime Industries Education Alliance (PAC Maritime) located in Portland, OR.
• PENNSYLVANIA
Delaware County Community College (DCCC) located in Media, PA.
• RHODE ISLAND
Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) located in Warwick, RI.
• TEXAS
San Jacinto Community College District (SJCCD) located in Pasadena, TX.
• VIRGINIA
Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy (MAMA) located in Norfolk, VA.
Tidewater Community College (TCC) located in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach, VA.
• WASHINGTON
Divers Institute of Technology (DIT) located in Seattle, Flagship Maritime LLC (Flagship) located in Tacoma, WA, MM&P Maritime Advancement, Training, Education and Safety Program (MITAGS) located in Seattle, WA, and Pacific Northwest Maritime Industries Education Alliance (PAC Maritime) located in Seattle and Mount Vernon, WA.
• WISCONSIN
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) located in Green Bay, WI.
• GUAM
Guam Shipyard (GSY) located in Tamuning, GU.
