Growing up on Bailey Island in mid-coast Maine, Craig Johnson ’91E was never far from the water. With generational relationships to fishing and sailing, it was not only a pastime but the foundational connection to a livelihood unlike any other. His immediate and extended family shared this love of the sea and sailboat racing. As a college student, Johnson brought members of the Academy to the islands to show them how fond he was of the Harpswell area, visiting the Bailey Island General Store and Cook’s Lobster House, built by his uncle.

A career on the water outside of fishing was not something Johnson initially imagined. His interest in Maine Maritime Academy arose as a result of the success of neighbors and friends who were alumni. As his high school career wound down, his enthusiasm for the challenge that lay up the coast grew; for a tenacious teenager who loved nothing more than being on the water, he was sold.

Following his graduation from MMA, his work in the industry both for large public companies like Hess and as a co-founder of Flagship Management, a maritime-focused executive recruiting firm, helped him build an unparalleled labyrinth of maritime connections. Although he has spent most of his adult life in places other than Maine, those early relationships continue to resurface. Many of these friendships are rooted in shipping and the maritime industry, while others are childhood or family connections established in Maine.

Johnson’s affability, quiet confidence, and leadership have made him a consensus builder within the Academy and among other state maritime academies, government, and industry leaders. In the winter of 2024, he was appointed for a second term on the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation; he is the only State Maritime Academy President to hold this honor.

Further developing these relationships – one of his most notable and well-known strengths – will be key to MMA moving forward as he continues to oversee the largest capital infrastructure projects in the history of the Academy: the pier construction project that will berth the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel as well as the renovation of the Curtis Hall dormitory. As the school’s Chief Operating Officer since August 2022 and Interim President since May 2024, Johnson’s role as a consensus builder and connector in the school’s state, federal, and industry relationships are paramount to MMAs future success.

Jack Parker, Chairman and CEO of Maine-based firm Reed & Reed, contractor for the pier project, said, “He understands the complex nature of the project, the multiple parties of interest, and the challenges of the work itself.  Johnson is committed to a collaborative approach which entails open communication and transparency, all keys to success.”

President Johnson addressing the Maine Legislature.

Named the Academy’s 16th President on March 19, 2025, this May marked the first commencement he presided over as President. During his remarks, he imparted on students that, “their future knows no bounds, and three decades from now, [one of them] may also find themselves serving the Academy in a capacity they couldn’t have dreamed.”

This was certainly the case for Johnson, who after graduating from MMA sailed on tankers prior to working ashore with Hess Corporation, then Seacor Holdings, and Carnival Cruise Lines before co-founding Flagship Management. Even ashore, he never lost his affinity for being on the water, filling that love for the water as a sailing coach for nearly two decades at the US Coast Guard Academy, Boston College, and the University of Miami. It was here, teaching young people and sharing his love of the maritime world, that Johnson began to angle for a move back north. Close friend, alumnus, and Associate Professor of Engineering John Settles commented, “He’s the embodiment of what MMA stands for – discipline, innovation, and leadership. His journey from cadet to captain of industry makes him the ideal leader for the Academy’s next era. What sets him apart isn’t just what he’s achieved, but how grounded he’s remained. He brings a set of ‘old pro tricks’ to every challenge.”

Perhaps one of the things Johnson is most well-known for after his two years in Castine is his ability to survey an economic or academic need for the Academy, and problem-solve to fill the void. He has gained recognition throughout the state for his work to bring maritime workforce development and training to life with programs in Castine and Brunswick, Maine, at the Academy’s new Maritime Industrial Workforce Training Center. These programs directly impact both the school’s reach and the urgent need for a skilled workforce in Maine to serve the robust defense and maritime industry throughout the state. Johnson’s relationships with industry and state leaders have made these programs possible. “It’s clear that a path forward for the Academy and for Maine is to focus on how we develop a skilled workforce and how we grow interest in and knowledge of the critical role maritime plays in the global economy,” he says.

President Craig Johnson ’91 discusses the Waterfront Improvement Project at the pier construction site with VP of Advancement and College Relations Kate Noel.

Johnson’s relationships with the town have grown organically through his time in Castine. This solid working partnership has been mutually beneficial for the town and institution as the Academy renovates its waterfront to accept the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel, TS State of Maine. The more than $100 million project is on track for completion in 2027, although the new training ship will tie up there in 2026. The project marks the largest capital infrastructure investment in the town. His presence on the waterfront is felt often.

“His understated style and unpretentious yet thorough engagement provide the type of thoughtful leadership that builds success for all parties on the project.”
— Jack Parker, Reed & Reed Chairman and CEO

Johnson and his wife Sharon, an accomplished and competitive sailor in her own right who currently serves as a sailing coach at the Academy, have embraced their year-round life in Castine. Their two children, Skye and Flynn, share their parents’ love of the water and engineering. Skye will enter MMA as a 4/C this September and Flynn may not be far behind.

It is fair to say that as Craig Johnson makes his way through campus each day, his mind is not often at rest. He is focused on what’s next for the Academy’s students, MMA on the national stage, and the opportunities and challenges that the maritime industry and higher education bring. And of course, there is always hope for a little time left over to hop on a vessel for what he truly loves.█

Photos Courtesy of Kevin Bennett Photography

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