KINGS POINT, N. Y., July 18, 2014 – Today, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) announced that Rear Admiral Thomas K Shannon, Commander, Military Sealift Command, has accepted the Academy’s invitation to serve as the Reviewing Officer for the Class of 2018’s Acceptance Day Ceremony and Parade, to be held on August 9th .  Acceptance Day marks the transition of the “plebe candidates” to “plebes.” The Class of 2018 officially arrived on July 2, 2014, when they began a rigorous, 20-day regimen of academic, military, and physical training known as Indoctrination - their first step toward becoming future leaders and licensed maritime officers.

During the ceremony Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Superintendent, will administer the USMMA Corps of Cadets Oath, officially accepting the new plebes into the Regiment of Midshipmen.  Rear Admiral Shannon will then administer the U.S. Navy Reserve Oath, making them midshipmen in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Sealift Officer Program. “We are very excited to have Rear Admiral Shannon as our Reviewing Officer. Approximately 75% of USMMA graduates enter the U.S. Navy Reserve as part of the Strategic Sealift Officer Program which is executed by Military Sealift Command”, said Helis. “Having Rear Admiral Shannon welcome them aboard is especially significant as they begin their military careers.” The remaining 25% of USMMA graduates enter active duty as officers in one of the four branches of the Military.

RADM Shannon graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science, and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He attended the Naval War College and received a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies in March 1998.

Rear Admiral Shannon served afloat in USS Jack Williams (FFG 24), USS Nicholson (DD 982), and USS Boone (FFG 28). Afloat staff duty includes chief staff officer in Destroyer Squadron 14 and surface operations officer in Cruiser Destroyer Group 12. He was commanding officer of USS De Wert (FFG 45) from September 1999 to April 2001. Shannon served as commanding officer of USS Vicksburg (CG 69) and air defense commander for the John F. Kennedy Battle Group from March 2004 to March 2006. He served as commander of Carrier Strike Group One from November 2011 to February 2013.

Ashore, Rear Admiral Shannon’s assignments included duty as assistant professor of Naval Science at the University of Texas at Austin; section head in Navy’s Joint and Contingency Matters Branch; section head in Navy’s Surface Fires Branch; executive assistant to the Director, Surface Warfare; Pacific Command division chief in the Joint Staff, J-3 Directorate; service on the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff; and U. S. Pacific Fleet deputy chief of staff for Operations, Training and Readiness.

Rear Admiral Shannon’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various service medals and unit awards.