A New Chapter for MMA

Jerald S. “Jerry” Paul ’89 Returns to Lead Academy

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY’S Board of Trustees announced in December that Jerald S. “Jerry” Paul has been named as the college’s 15th President. Mr. Paul, former President of Capitol Access and a 1989 graduate of the institution, will take office in April.

“I am gratified that the Board has selected such a fine individual to lead this wonderful college when I step down,” says President William J. Brennan. “Jerry has the background and experience needed to lead MMA at this important time in our history.”

Jerry Paul Portrait

Jerald S. “Jerry” Paul ’89 has been named as the college’s 15th President.

A Marine Engineering Technology major, Mr. Paul graduated in the top 5% of his class with two minors at MMA: Powerplant Management & Controls and Nuclear Engineering. After MMA, he earned a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Nuclear Engineering, conferred with High Honors, and a Juris Doctor of Law, conferred Cum Laude.

Mr. Paul held an unlimited tonnage USCG 3rd Engineer License and a Maine Third Class Engineer License. He sailed on Merchant Marine vessels intermittently and served as an Engineering Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve MMR. He later served as a Reactor Engineer on shoreside nuclear reactors.

For more than 20 years, he has practiced law as a member of the Federal and Florida Bar, including advocacy as a government affairs consultant and strategist, representing clients in governmental venues on matters of policy, appropriations, and grant funding.

Mr. Paul served as the President-Appointed Principal Deputy Administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with a budget exceeding $10 billion along with oversight and management of 3 Divisions: U.S. Nuclear Defense Programs; U.S. Nuclear Nonproliferation; and U.S. Naval Reactors. He has experience within the National Security complex including U.S. National Laboratories and with international diplomatic affairs. He has held security clearances at the highest levels for oversight of classified programs important to America’s interests.

As a former senior official within the U.S. Department of Energy, Mr. Paul has been engaged throughout domestic and international energy markets. He served as Distinguished Fellow for Energy Policy at the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy, University of Tennessee in conjunction with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He represented the State of Florida on the Southern States Energy Board. He served on the 10-Year Planning Board for Tennessee Valley Authority. He has operated an energy consulting firm specializing in regulatory policy and development of energy technology.

He served as an elected member of the Florida House of Representatives, serving as Chair of an Appropriations Subcommittee and Chair of the Environmental Regulation Committee. Throughout his career, he has also served in multiple capacities within Higher Education. He served on the College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board and the Nuclear Engineering Dept. Advisory Board at the University of Florida. He served on the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation.

“I am honored to be offered this opportunity to return to my alma mater and lead the Academy that provided me with the tools that enabled me to achieve success,” says Mr. Paul. “My wife, Kristy, and I are eager to come back to Castine. We love this town, its maritime heritage, and especially its people including our local friendships.”

“I have had the good fortune in both the public and private sectors, and in government, to experience a rich diversity of perspectives on how organizations function – and function at the highest level. I will draw on all that I’ve learned as I settle into this new role,” Mr. Paul says. “I look forward to building on President Brennan’s extraordinary service and stewarding MMA into the future.”

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