United States Maritime Administration
Agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation. MARAD administers financial programs to develop, promote, and operate the U.S. Maritime Service and the U.S. Merchant Marine. In addition, it conducts research and development activities in the maritime field; regulates the transfer of U.S. documented vessels to foreign registries; maintains equipment, shipyard facilities, and reserve fleets of Government-owned ships essential for national defense. MARAD also maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF)[3] as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies and logistically supporting the military when needed.[4] MARAD also manages the Ready Reserve Force (RFF) - Naval Reserve officers who can fill in shortages during emergencies and rapidly expand the Navy's capabilities. And it operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
- Stephen Carmel[1], Administrator
- Sang H. Yi[2], Deputy Administrator
Seal of the U.S. Maritime Administration | |
 Flag of the U.S. Maritime Administration | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 24, 1950 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Department of Transportation |
| Website | maritime.dot.gov |
History
When the United States Maritime Commission was abolished on May 24, 1950, its functions were split between the Federal Maritime Board which was responsible for regulating shipping and awarding subsidies for construction and operation of merchant vessels, and Maritime Administration[5], which was responsible for administering subsidy programs, maintaining the national defense reserve merchant fleet, and operating the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
In 1961, the Federal Maritime Board regulatory functions were assumed by the newly created Federal Maritime Commission, while the subsidy functions were assigned to the Maritime Subsidy Board of the Maritime Administration. In 1964, the US was only moving about 15% of the world's cargo and goods by sea.[6] The Maritime Administration instituted three programs to increase U.S. ship building and make the new U.S. built hulls more efficient and carry larger payloads.
On August 6, 1981,[3] MARAD came under control of the Department of Transportation thereby bringing all transportation programs under one cabinet-level department.
Maritime Academies
The Maritime Administration collaborates with stakeholders from all transportation sectors and modes in order to accomplish its mission to improve the U.S. marine transportation system. MARAD operates one federal service academy and administers a Grant-In-Aid Program for six state-operated maritime academies[3]:
| Classification | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | United States Merchant Marine Academy | Kings Point, New York | One of the United States service academies |
| State | California Maritime Academy | Vallejo, California | A campus of the California State University |
| State | Maine Maritime Academy | Castine, Maine | A public post-secondary college and nautical training institution |
| State | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts | A regionally accredited, coeducational, state college |
| State | Great Lakes Maritime Academy | Traverse City, Michigan | A division of Northwestern Michigan College |
| State | SUNY Maritime College | Bronx, New York | A campus of the State University of New York |
| State | Texas A&M Maritime Academy | Galveston, Texas | A branch campus of Texas A&M University |
Students at these academies can graduate with appropriate United States Coast Guard licenses (Mate or Engineer) if they choose to take the Coast Guard License exam. They may become commissioned reserve officers in any branch of the service when graduating from USMMA or a ROTC scholarship from one of the other maritime schools[3].
Subsidies
The Maritime Subsidy Board negotiates contracts for ship construction and grants operating-differential subsidies to shipping companies.
Maritime Security Program
The Maritime Administrator is vested with the residual powers of the Director of the National Shipping Authority, which was established in 1951 to organize and direct emergency merchant marine operations.
The Maritime Security Act of 1996 created the Maritime Security Program (MSP) authorizes MARAD to enter into contracts with U.S.-flag commercial ship owners to provide service during times of war or national emergencies.[7] As of 2007, ten companies have signed contracts providing the MSP with a reserve of sixty cargo vessels.[8] The MSP is the largest source for Department of Defense surge fleet.
Past Administrators
| No. | Portrait | Administrator | Term started | Term ended | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Vice Admiral | August 8, 1950 | October 1, 1952 | [9] |
| 2 |  |
Albert W. Gatov | October 2, 1952 | June 30, 1953 | [10] |
| 3 | |
Louis S. Rothschild | July 1, 1953 | February 25, 1955 | [11] |
| 4 | |
Clarence G. Morse | March 16, 1955 | May 1, 1960 | [12] |
| 5 | |
Vice Admiral
Ralph E. Wilson |
July 1, 1960 | February 22, 1961 | [13] |
| 6 | |
Donald W. Alexander | October 9, 1961 | October 31, 1963 | [14] |
| 7 |  |
Nicholas Johnson | March 2, 1964 | June 30, 1966 | [15] |
| 8 | |
Andrew E. Gibson | March 25, 1969 | July 6, 1972 | [16] |
| 9 | |
Robert J. Blackwell | July 7, 1972 | April 9, 1979 | [17] |
| 10 |  |
Admiral | October 19, 1981 | May 31, 1985 | [18] |
| 11 | |
John A. Gaughan | November 26, 1985 | March 26, 1989 | [19] |
| 12 |  |
Captain
Warren G. Leback |
October 11, 1989 | January 20, 1993 | [20] |
| 13 |  |
Vice Admiral | September 14, 1993 | June 30, 1997 | [21] |
| 14 | |
Clyde J. Hart Jr. | August 6, 1998 | May 21, 2000 | [22] |
| 15 |  |
Captain
William G. Schubert |
December 6, 2001 | February 11, 2005 | [23] |
| 16 |  |
Sean T. Connaughton | September 6, 2006 | January 20, 2009 | [24] |
| 17 | |
David T. Matsuda | July 30, 2009 | June 4, 2013 | [25] |
| 18 |  |
Paul N. "Chip" Jaenichen | July 25, 2014 | January 13, 2017 | [26] |
| 19 |  |
Rear Admiral | August 8, 2017 | January 11, 2021 | [27] |
| 20 |  |
Rear Admiral | May 16, 2022 | January 20, 2025 | [28] |
| - |  |
Sang Yi (acting) | June 12, 2025 | December 19, 2025 | [29] |
| 21 |  |
Stephen M. Carmel | December 19, 2025 | Incumbent | [30] |
