2011 - A Look Back
SUNY Maritimes Naval ROTC, now with nearly 200 Midshipmen, Marines, and Sailors in its ranks, has had a fantastic academic year with several particularly noteworthy events. The Spring 2011 commissioning ceremony introduced 31 Navy Ensigns and 7 Marine Corps Second Lieutenants to the service of their country from both Maritime and Fordham University. The unit also was proud to claim another class valedictorian. It was the unit’s largest commissioning event to date and the ceremony occurred on a bright, sunny day on the football field overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Vice Admiral John Craine, Maritime President, was the guest speaker. Initial numbers indicate that the Fall 2011 class will be one of the largest freshman classes the unit has seen and will replace those newly commissioned leaders with fine 4/C Midshipmen. 
For the past several years, the NROTC Battalion has consisted of students from SUNY Maritime, Fordham University and Molloy College. However, this past spring Columbia University approved the return of Naval ROTC to their campus after a 40 year hiatus. With the signing of the agreement between the Secretary of the Navy and Columbia on board the USS IWO JIMA during fleet week, as the only New York City area NROTC unit, this responsibility and privilege falls to the Maritime College unit. With Fall 2012 as a target, Midshipmen from Columbia University will contribute their leadership and abilities to the ranks of the NROTC Battalion. This is an exciting development and will allow for a wider range of academic experience and diversity within the unit.
In May, the NROTC Unit bade “fair winds and following seas” to Captain James P. Driscoll, who retired from the United States Navy after more than thirty years of service to his country. In addition to his four year tour as Commanding Officer, he also served as Maritime’s cross country coach, and regularly served as an announcer for Maritime’s football and basketball games. A surprise retirement party for him was hosted by the class of 2011 in recognition of his leadership and his direct impact on the future generation of Navy and Marine leaders. In attendance were many of the students he had the pleasure of commanding over the years as well as, faculty, unit staff, and Vice Admiral Craine. Reflecting on his service, Captain Driscoll stated that “this was the ideal final command…seeing the progress of all of the Midshipmen, OC’s and Marines has been nothing short of amazing.” 
Captain Matthew E. Loughlin arrived as the new Commanding Officer in mid-August. He is a SUNY New Paltz graduate and was commissioned in the Navy via Officer Candidates School in 1983. He is reporting here after serving as the Commanding Officer for the aegis cruiser USS SHILOH, home ported in Japan. The unit has also welcomed Lieutenant Andrea Benvenuto, the new senior class advisor and staff Surface Warfare Officer. She too arrived from a tour in Japan. She has relieved Lieutenant Alex McMahon who is off to his new duty station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
During the course of the summer, seven Midshipmen passed their technical interviews in Washington D.C. to become accepted into the highly competitive Naval Nuclear Power Program as future Submarine and Surface Warfare (N) Officers. The Unit also had five Marine Option Midshipmen complete the grueling Marine Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia.
Finally, one highlight of the academic year was the quality and stature of guest speakers that spoke to the unit which included Marine aviator Lieutenant General Milstead, Navy Vice Admiral Blake, and a senior enlisted symposium consisting of a Marine Sergeant Major and a Navy Command Master Chief. With several major initiatives underway and many more to come, the SUNY Maritime NROTC Battalion continues to be one of the best in the country.
