Crowley Maritime Corporation presented U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Midshipman James R. Cameron with the company’s Maritime Security Enhancement Award, during the academy's recent 2013 graduation awards convocation.
The Maritime Security Enhancement Award, established in 2003, is given each year to a USMMA student who demonstrates a strong interest in a port, maritime or transportation security career and who achieves the highest grade in the academy’s transportation security class.
Amelia Smith, Crowley’s manager of corporate and marketing communications, presented the recognition certificate and cash award to Cameron on behalf of Crowley, commenting, “We are proud to present Crowley's Maritime Security Enhancement Award to such a deserving and dedicated student."
Cameron, a native of Plainview, NY, and a graduate of JFK High School, majored in logistics and intermodal transportation, graduating with a 3.1 grade-point average (GPA). During his time at USMMA, Cameron gained experience outside of the classroom by serving 70 days as a deck cadet aboard the Yorktown Express, a vessel managed by Crowley company Marine Transport Management. In this role, Cameron had the opportunity to work closely with the chief mate and take shifts on the bridge to assist with navigational duties as the ship transited ports along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, Germany, Belgium and England.
After graduation, Cameron will take a commission as a third mate aboard one of 110 vessels operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). MSC is the leading provider of ocean transportation for the Navy and the Department of Defense. The organization also sustains America’s war-fighting forces and delivers specialized maritime services in support of national security objectives.