Ira Breskin is a journalist, editor and lecturer, focusing on maritime-related subjects. The Business of Shipping (9th edition) is his first book.
Breskin teaches maritime economics, policy, regulation, American commercial maritime history and intermodal transportation. Since 2003, he has been a senior lecturer at State University of New York Maritime College in Bronx, NY.
He has co-led a total of five, one month-long summer study aboard program in Asia or northern Europe for SUNY Maritime students, arranging many company and port-related visits.
Breskin also contributes to industry publications and frequently is quoted as source.
To his lectures and writing, Breskin brings more than 25 years of experience as a business journalist. He covered international trade and transportation for The Journal of Commerce, served as a Canadian correspondent for Fairchild News Service and reported on local businesses for daily newspapers in New Jersey and West Virginia.
Breskin also has taught at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point and the prestigious Webb Institute in Glen Cove; both campuses are located on Long Island, NY.
Breskin earned a BA from Columbia University, an MBA in aviation management from Dowling College, and an MS in International Trade and Transportation from SUNY Maritime. He holds an Ordinary Seaman rating.
He has won several academic fellowships. They include a National Endowment for the Humanities award to research maritime history at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT and the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship, to study international business and economics at Columbia University.
He lives in Great Neck, NY with his wife Terry and daughter Marti.
- M.Sc., SUNY Maritime College, Bronx, N.Y., International Transportation Management
- MBA, Dowling College, Oakdale, N.Y.
- B.A, Columbia University, English and comparative literature.
Active Memberships:
National Maritime Historical Society
Navy League
NY Financial Writers
NYMAR (New York Maritime)
Society for Environmental Journalists
Senior Lecturer, State University of New York Maritime College, Bronx, N.Y. 2003 - present
Teaches transportation/shipping economics, maritime history and writing.
Visiting Instructor, Webb Institute, Glen Cove, N.Y. Fall 2011
Taught maritime history to naval architecture/marine engineering students.
Adjunct Lecturer, United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y. 2005 - 2010.
Taught ethics, logistics, maritime history and writing to midshipmen.
FARA (Faculty Athletic Representatives Association) Institute
Indianapolis, Oct. 2015
Vermont Law School, Summer 2012
National Endowment for the Humanities
Munson Institute/Mystic Seaport, Summer 2010
Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism
Columbia University Business School, 1991-1992
SUNY Faculty Senator, 2021-present; Alternative Senator, Sept. 2019-2021
Accreditation Reviewer, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, March 2021; US Coast Guard Academy, New London CT, October 2020
New English Council of Higher Education
Representative, Humanities Department Advisory Board, 2021-present; 2013-2019
Humanities Dept. Rep., Committee on Nominations and Elections, 2020-2023
Co-chair, Committee on Nominations and Elections (campus-wide), 2020-2021
Author, The Business of Shipping (9th edition), Schiffer Publishing, March 2018
Revised and updated classic primer that examines industry economics, operations, policy and regulation.
Chapter co-author, The Digital Transformation of Logistics, John Wiley & Sons, March 2021.
Freelance Writer/Editor, Great Neck, N.Y. 2001 to present
Contributes to The New York Times, web sites (gCaptain.com), trade magazines.
Books editor: The Marine Society of the City of New York, 1770 to 2020, Fort Schuyler Press, March 2020; Outsmarting The Smart Money, Understanding Behavioral Finance, McGraw Hill, 2002
Wrote funded $262,000 SUNY Maritime grant awarded to prevent student alcohol abuse.
Ordinary Seaman/Yeoman, Training Ship Empire State VI, Summer Cruise 2008
Senior Writer, The Daily Deal, N.Y., N.Y. 2000-2001
Covered mergers, acquisitions, roll-ups and bankruptcies of industrial companies.
Reporter, Investor's Business Daily, N.Y., N.Y. 1995-1999
Analyzed corporate finance, operations and strategies.
Writer/Editor, The Journal of Commerce, N.Y., N.Y. 1986-1994
Covered aviation and air cargo. Focused on operations of domestic and foreign airlines, airports, express carriers and the Postal Service.
Canadian Correspondent/Bureau Chief, Fairchild News Service, Toronto, Ont. 1981 to 1985
Covered major Canadian industries for daily and weekly trade newspapers published in New York. Also monitored trade issues and managed two-person bureau.