Surface Warfare Schools Command headquarters hosted a momentous occasion on July 18, 2025, as colleagues, family, and a host of distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the remarkable career of Capt. (Ret.) Floyston “Bud” Weeks. After dedicating over half a century to the United States Navy, both as a Surface Warfare Officer and as a civilian employee, Capt. Weeks embarked on a well-deserved retirement, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment.

Mark Nickerson shares a photo of the first American Flag LNG Tanker trading in America going from Texas to Puerto Rico. Going left to right: Chief Mate Jack Tragert ’15, 3rd Engineer Brody Hawthorne ’25, Chief Engineer (superintendent) Timothy Leclair ’02, Chief Engineer Mark Nickerson ’78, Cargo Engineer Ben Richards ’16 and 3rd Engineer Jace Chouinard ’24. Alumni crew not pictured: Chief Engineer Evan Park ’04, First Engineer Robert Mullarky ’92 and Cargo Engineer Andy McDermott ’10. Next trip to is Puerto Rico; CEO and owner of Crowley, Tom Crowley along with
Governor of Puerto Rico and CEO of charterers Naturgy will be visiting the vessel. This will likely be the start of American Flag LNG shipping great opportunities for maritime graduates to say the least. Hats off to Tom Crowley to put faith in American seafarers allowing a unique and first-time opportunity such as this.

JT Hall and Dan Rideout continue holding annual Roomie-versaries. We met with our spouses and JT brought his adult children to Greece and Istanbul this summer. They are planning a mini MMA gathering with Craig Moffett in October in the Norfolk, Va. area.

Peter Russell was recently honored for more than 40 years of “distinguished service in human resources, leadership development, and organizational strategy,” by Coastal Counties Workforce, Inc. Over his career, Russell has worked for several companies in organizational development, human resources, leadership development, talent acquisition, performance management and other jobs. Russell was a member of the board of directors of Coastal Counties Workforce Inc. (CCWI) and vice chair for nearly 20 years. CCWI is one of three Local Workforce Development Boards in Maine, with its region consisting of the coastal counties of Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Cumberland and York. In a CCWI report, it is written, “We are proud to honor Peter as a recipient of this year’s Outstanding Service Award … Peter has dedicated his career to helping individuals and organizations grow….becoming a trusted HR leader across major industries – including energy, healthcare and technology. Peter has always brought integrity, compassion and excellence to his work … empowering others truly embodies the spirit of public service.” On Sept. 19, Russell received a personal letter from Senator Susan M. Collins congratulating him on his CCWI award. The letter, in part, reads “Your outstanding leadership and dedication to workforce development have earned you this recognition. I applaud your commitment to compassion and ethics in the workplace.”

Dave Melin shares that classmate Mike Brown and his wife Robin from Maryland stopped to visit while on an RV tour of the country.

Anthony Fraser and his son Connor design and build teardrop style campers together. After graduating from MMA, then being at sea, Anthony is happy to be working at home with his son. Fraser grew up in Stockton Springs and wanted to build campers because of happy childhood memories camping with his family on Sears Island. Connor is the perfect partner. He graduated from Universal Technical Institute in Massachusetts and works as a mechanic and crew chief on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for the National Guard. “Teardrop style campers,” says Anthony, “are smaller and more flexible than full-sized campers. They are easier to tow and they are easier to maneuver into a camping spot. Our campers are the square-drop shape, making the space inside more usable.”

Greenville native and ardent angler Eric Ward recently iced a whopper of a Moosehead Lake brook trout that would turn out to be a 66-year lake record. The big brookie was 25 inches and tipped the scales at 7 lbs. 10 oz.! The previous lake record was a 7 lb. 8 oz. brook trout that was caught in 1959. Born and raised in Greenville, Ward is about as devoted to his hunting and fishing avocation as a man can be. A merchant mariner for 30 years and a married man with daughters, the outdoors has been in his blood since childhood.

Although much of his retirement time is tied up by his outdoor pursuits, Ward, a Maine Guide, still has found time to serve as a County Commission and serve on the MDIF&W Advisory Council. With the help of a state legislator, he has also gotten behind legislation this winter that will increase the penalties for illegal bucket stocking of invasive fish into Maine’s sport fishery waters. An adventurer by nature, Ward will soon be on his way to the Arctic Circle to get in one last ice fishing trip before the spring melts way up North. Oh, and by the way, Ward’s record brookie will be mounted and hung in his home for all to see. And he had already given his perfect piscatorial prize a name: Neo.

This past August 5 MMA Alumni crossed paths with one another at the 2025 DirtDaze Adventure Motorcycle Rally in North Haverhill, NH. From left to right: Jacob Bartol ’08, Ryan Michaud ’07, Pat Zrioka ’87, Peter Geissler ’83, & Ray Geissler ’81.