Department: Engineering
Title(s):

· Assistant Professor

Email: thomas.whitney@mma.edu
Office: 202 ABS Center for Engineering, Science & Researc
Office Hours: M,T,W,F (0900 - 1000)

Bio

Thomas Whitney is an Assistant Engineering Professor at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) and a key contributor to the development of MMA’s new Nuclear Engineering Technology program, where he is helping to design the curriculum, develop courses and laboratory experiences, and prepare students for the eventual merging of nuclear technology and the maritime industry.

Thomas brings a unique combination of maritime engineering experience, nuclear engineering education, academic research, and industry experience to the development of the program. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Systems Engineering, summa cum laude, from Maine Maritime Academy, with minors in Naval Architecture & Design and Mathematics.

Following his undergraduate studies, Thomas earned a Master of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cambridge. He subsequently pursued a Ph.D. in Engineering at Cambridge, conducting research in the Energy, Fluid Mechanics, and Turbomachinery Division, which was subsequently halted due to the COVID 19 pandemic. His graduate research included work involving engines, emissions, particle generation and measurement, experimental systems, and the development and testing of engineering technologies. He also served as a teaching and laboratory assistant at Cambridge, gaining experience teaching engineering students and developing and conducting laboratory experiments.

Thomas later brought his engineering expertise into industry as an Applications Engineer with Seakeeper, where he provided engineering and technical support to boat manufacturers and marine dealers throughout the Southeast United States, the Caribbean, and South America. His work involved vessel systems, structural requirements, engineering analysis, installation, testing, troubleshooting, and the development of technical documentation and training. This experience provided a practical connection between engineering theory, complex marine systems, industry requirements, and real-world implementation.

In 2023, Thomas was invited by faculty to join Maine Maritime Academy as a Visiting Engineering Professor and became an Assistant Engineering Professor in 2024. He currently teaches courses including Thermodynamics, Thermal Fluids Laboratory, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, and Maintenance. He also maintains a current USCG license and has served as both an Engine and Senior Engine Training Officer, developing and overseeing practical engineering training, aboard MMA's training ship.

Thomas is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering at the University of South Carolina under Dr. Travis Knight, where his research focuses on new generation IV nuclear technology and its potential applications in the maritime industry. This research complements his maritime engineering background and provides a direct connection between emerging nuclear technologies and the needs of the maritime sector.

Through the development of Maine Maritime Academy’s Nuclear Engineering Technology program, Thomas is helping establish an educational pathway that combines the Academy’s longstanding strengths in maritime engineering and hands-on technical education with the rapidly developing field of nuclear technology. His role includes contributing to the development of the program’s curriculum and laboratory experiences, creating courses that introduce students to nuclear engineering principles and applications, and ultimately teaching within the new program.

The Nuclear Engineering Technology program represents a natural extension of Thomas’s academic and professional path: from operating and maintaining marine power systems, to researching advanced engineering technologies at Cambridge, to supporting the design and implementation of marine engineering systems in industry, and now to applying nuclear engineering education and research to the future of maritime power.

Maine Maritime Academy | B.S., Marine Systems Engineering
University of Cambridge | M.Phil., Engineering
University of Cambridge | Ph.D., Engineering (Suspended due to COVID)
University of South Carolina | Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering (Currently pursuing)