Maine Maritime Academy

On May 22, 2024, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Wayne Norton announced that the Board had voted unanimously to appoint Craig Johnson ’91 as Interim President of Maine Maritime Academy effective June 2.

Johnson has been a leader in the maritime industry for more than three decades. After graduating from MMA, Johnson sailed on tankers prior to working ashore all with Hess Corporation. He later worked for Seacor Holdings (Seabulk) and Carnival Cruise Lines. As a founder of Flagship Management, a worldwide maritime industry recruiting and consulting firm, Johnson has a thorough understanding of the professional needs of the industries that employ MMA graduates. He currently serves on the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee, appointed by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Before his appointment as interim president, Johnson served as the Chief Operating Officer of Maine Maritime Academy since August of 2022. During his tenure, he has overseen the Academy’s finances, facilities, and operations, as well as Advancement and Alumni affairs. Under Johnson’s leadership as COO, he has managed all Academy operations including multi-million-dollar construction initiatives, as well as the pursuit of new sources of revenue, particularly by advocating for the passage of L.D. 2092, an act to bring greater parity to state funding of the Academy relative to other state institutions. He has made progress fostering additional strategic partnerships with maritime sector leaders including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Bath Iron Works. These partnerships, in collaboration with the Academy’s exceptional faculty, have created new academic programming aligned with MMA’s strategic goals.

As an alumnus, his connections within the Academy community are deep and meaningful. He has supported Academy athletics and fundraising for many years and introduced the Admiral’s Dinner to connect with the industries that support Maine Maritime students.

Johnson is an accomplished sailor and was the head sailing coach at the University of Miami for 15 years. He also coached at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Boston College. Johnson has made the return of MMA’s sailing team to prominence a priority with a lofty goal of winning an Offshore National Championship.