New SUNY Maritime College president takes office

Rear Admiral Wendi B. Carpenter, USNR (Ret.) became the tenth president of SUNY Maritime College – and the first woman to hold the office – in a ceremony held August 31 in the historic Fort Schuyler, St. Mary’s Pentagon, SUNY Maritime campus, Throggs Neck, N.Y.

State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher addressed the audience and praised the new SUNY Maritime College president for her leadership and distinguished Naval career. She also thanked Vice Admiral John W. Craine, Jr. (USN) Ret. for his years of service to SUNY Maritime College and to the State University of New York.

During the ceremony, SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Carl Hayden also spoke about SUNY Maritime College’s great traditions and the strength of the college’s graduates. He offered warm thanks to Admiral Craine for his many years of service and spoke of Admiral Carpenter’s leadership and abilities that will benefit the college for many years to come. US Maritime Administration (MARAD) Chief Council Denise Krepp also addressed the audience and presented Admiral Craine with a special award from MARAD in recognition of his many years of service. In addition to the formal Change of Office ceremonies, Captain Richard Smith, ’81, took the podium and formally inducted 338 first-year members of the regiment, from the Class of 2015, into the regiment.

Speaking before the audience of close to 1,000 Cadets, Maritime College students, SUNY leadership, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College, Admiral Carpenter spoke of the future and preparing the College, Maritime’s students, faculty and staff for the challenges ahead.

Captain Thomas Greene, USN (Ret.), Vice President of University Relations and Deputy Commandant of Cadets, was Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Maryellen Keefe, SUNY Maritime Humanities professor, gave the invocation and benediction. Also in attendance for the historic event were Eunice Lewin and Tina Good, SUNY Board of Trustees; Timothea Larr, SUNY Maritime College Council Chair and College Council members: Thomas Magliocca, William Garry, Mark Brosnan and Joseph Conway; RADM Mark Buzby, Commander, Military Sealift Command (MSC); RADM Philip H. Greene, Jr., USMS, Superintendent, United States Merchant Marine Academy; RADM Gerry Achenbach, Superintendent, Great Lakes Military Academy; RADM Floyd Miller, former president, SUNY Maritime College and RADM David Brown, former president, SUNY Maritime College.

Founded in 1874, SUNY Maritime College is the oldest and largest maritime college in the United States and one of six state maritime academies.

September 2, 2011