It comes down to basics. You learn how to follow—and how to do so responsibly—before you are given the responsibility for leadership of others.

This happens through experience in the Regiment, training on the MMA vessel fleet, classroom projects and labs, athletics, cooperative education programs and internships, student government…the complete list entwines almost every major endeavor while you are a student into a virtual rope inside you that may fray but never breaks when you are called upon to take charge.

The more senior you become as a leader, the more consequences there are when your words and actions are not closely aligned.

Rear Adm. Mark Whitney ’84 has served in the U.S. Navy for more than 34 years, presently as Fleet Maintenance Officer for Fleet Forces Command, and says, “Maine Maritime Academy instilled in me a leadership principle that I do not fail to follow: I never expect anyone to do something I would not do myself and, more aptly, have not done myself already. This has served me well in my career.”

Below are some other key qualities of good leadership that Whitney esteems:

Humility: helping people to feel safe in being open with you and providing honest feedback because there is no fear of your positional power.

Trust: being credible and reliable so that people feel an emotional connection with you, as well as a belief that you are focused on making the team successful versus being selfishly motivated.