Grab your lunch and join us in the Mess Deck

Please join MMA alumni for a roundtable discussion to discover what helped them to become leaders in their respective industries and for all to network and share thoughts on leadership and decision-making, both technical and behavioral. This will be an informal session and you may “drop-in” as your class schedule allows. Though informal, we do ask you to be courteous as you quietly come and go and ask that you plan to join a table for a minimum of 15 minutes. If time allows, go on to another table!

All students are welcome!

Biographies of Participating Alumni

• Brian Gebo ’92  | “Brian” | Major: Marine Engineering Technology | Activities: soccer, rugby, R.A. | Company: Simmonds Precision | Position: Business Developer for Aerospace Integration | Bio: NROTC 3 Year Scholarship, selected Aviation, selected for SH-60B helicopters flying off Cruisers, Destroyers and Frigates. Retired after 26 years as O-6, including Squadron Operational Command at HSL-37 in Kaneohe Bay HI and Major Command at National Reconnaissance Office | Home: Vergennes, VT
• Clarence Snyder ’71  | “Snyd” | Major: Marine Engineering | Activities:  football and rowing | Company: MGR Farm  |  Position: Owner | Bio: Started out as a field engineer, 40 years later retired as a product manager. With many turns in the road along the way. | Home: Brookfield, MA
• Rick Wesley ’76  | “Captain Wesley” | Major: Nautical Science | Activities:  Golf | Company:  Savannah River Pilots  |  Position: Retired River Pilot | Bio: Sailed with MSC and Union Oil company then spent 42 years on the Savannah River | Home: Savannah, GA
• Deborah Dempsey ’76  | “Captain Deb” | Major: Nautical Science | Activities: Work study – library, math tutor, waterfront | Company: Retired Pilot; Bellingham Community Boating Center  |  Position: Founder/Board of Directors | Bio: Exxon – 9 months – 3/M – 1976 – 1977 Lykes Bros SS – 3/M, 2/M, C/M, Master – 1977 – 1994 CRBP (Columbia River Bar Pilots) – Pilot, 1994 – 2016 Founder – Community Boating Center, 2007 – present | Home: Bellingham, WA
• Harold F. King ’01  | “Harold King” | Major: Marine Engineering Technology | Activities: USCG MARTP, basketball, cross country running, SCUBA dive club | Company: Fairwater  |  Position: Chief Engineer | Bio: Currently sailing as chief engineer on the MV CALIFORNIA. Also operate a commercial apple orchard in Buckfield Maine | Home: Buckfield, ME
• George H. Burns III ’77  | “Commander” | Major: Nautical Science | Activities: NROTC, Ambulance | Company: MarPort Security |  Position: Owner | Bio: Naval Officer, USCG officer | Home: Fredonia, NY
• Scott Bailey ‘81  | “Scott” | Major: Marine Engineering | Activities: Drill Team, Yearbook, E-Squad | Company: Retired from ExxonMobil | Position: Chief Engineer | Bio: 22 years as soccer coach and administrator, transitioned into finance and Sport’s Boarding School | Home: Daytona, FL
• Seth Brown ’98  | “Seth” | Major: Marina/Boatyard Management | Activities: Varsity Soccer | Company: DME Academy | Position: President/CEO | Bio: Collegiate coaching career which transitioned into sport education | Home: Maine/Arizona
• Christopher Fay ’76  | “Mr. Fay” | Major: Nautical Science | Activities: Outing Club, Intramural handball and racket ball  | Company: Retired Boeing Company |Position:  Sr. Manufacturing Engineer | Bio: Sailed 4 years then shipyard and marine design engineer until ‘93 aerospace design and manufacturing engineer until 2026 | Home: Seattle, WA
• Captain Curt Nehring ’71  | “Captain Curt” | Major: Nautical Science | Activities: Football, Coxswain Monamay, Regimental Staff (Adjutant) | Company: Columbia River Bar Pilots | Position: Senior Pilot, security officer, liaison with USCG and USN  | Bio: Active Duty Navy 71-75 including Vietnam, USS Brunswick and HCU-1.  Deep Sea 75-2004, Master 79-04, Delivery Master T-5 Project. 05-Present CR Bar Pilot Presently active | Home: Chinook, WA
• Marc Lenzi ’81  | “Marc” | Major: Marine Engineering | Company: Retired AMO | Position: Chief Engineer | Bio: 41 years at sea. Retired from American Maritime Officers Union, sailed 31 years as Chief Engineer | Home: New Hampshire
• Mike Villa ’81  | “Captain Villa” | Activities: Sailing | Major: Marine Transportation | Company: St. Johns River Bar Pilot | Position: Pilot | Bio: 10 years merchant marine with AMO union.  10 years as pilot | Home: Florida
• Dawn Schultz P’20, ’24  | “Dr. Schultz” | Activities:  Dance Ensemble | Company: Monmouth University, Kean University, Ocean Township School Disctrict  | Position:  Professor | Bio: I am a dance educator, choreographer, interdisciplinary artist, and researcher whose career bridges education, creative practice, and leadership across K–12 and higher education. My work centers on creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative approaches to dance, visual art, film, and choreography, while creating meaningful opportunities for students, artists, and communities to connect through the arts. | Home: New Jersey
• Matt Stephens ’08  | “Matt” | Major: Marine Transportation Operations | Activities: Sailing | Company: MMA | Position: Professor | Bio: Maersk, Chevron, and volunteering on M/V Logos Hope | Home: Castine, Maine
• William Anderson ’76  | “Bill” | Major: Nautical Science | Activities: APO, Food Council, Striker, Mess Officer | Company: APO, Food Council, Striker, Mess Officer  | Position: Captain and Marine Advisor  | Bio: Sailed on Tankers for 15-years, last several as Captain. 1990 moved into shore management with ExxonMobil  | Home: San Antonio, TX
• Peter Petrelis ’81  | “Mr. Petrelis” | Major: Nautical Science | Activities: APO |  Company: Retired | Bio: Sailed aboard U.S. flag merchant vessels, 6 years.  Afterwards with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (5 yrs), and U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, mainly with surge sealift vessels, namely the Ready Reserve Force, later as MARADs liaison to the Joint Staff, Logistics Directorate, J-4, The Pentagon (25 yrs).  Captain, U.S. Navy Retired, assignments included the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Military Sealift Command (30 yrs). | Home: Port St. Lucie, FL
• Jasper Walsh ’06  | “Captain Walsh” | Major: Marine Transportation Operations | Company: Pascagoula Bar Pilots | Position: Pilot | Bio: I sailed for 15 years on tankers, and have been a pilot for 5 years. | Home: Ocean Springs, MS
• Matthew Phelan ’01  | “Matt” | Major: Marine Transportation Operations | Activities: cross country, e-squad | Company: MEBA/Liberty Maritime | Position: 2nd Mate | Bio: 2001-2008 Second Mate on dry bulk carriers in global trade, 2008-2016 International project manager for a global bio-tech company, 2017-2024 Second Mate on tankers with Chevron, 2024-present Second Mate on car carriers with Liberty Maritime | Home: Germantown, NY and Rockland, ME
• Thomas C. Cross ’76 | “Tom” | Major: Marine Engineering | Career: Retired Teknor Apex, Zapada Marine, Ocean Marine Service  | Position: Engineering Manager, Chief Engineer | Bio: After sailing for 11 years I took a job ashore as a plant Engineer for a plastics/Chemical company where I worked for 30 years and worked my way up to become the Engineering Manager | Home: New Hampshire

Brought to you by Advancement, Alumni Association, and the Regimental Staff.