KINGS POINT, N.Y., December 15, 2014 – The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) held its annual Congressional Board of Visitors (BOV) meeting on Monday, December 8, 2014. Members of the Academy’s Congressional Board of Visitors are: 

Senate  
                                                         
•        Mark Warner (D-VA)
•        Roger Wicker (R-MS)                                     
•        John Boozman (R-AR)                        
•        Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) (ex officio)

House

•        Tim Bishop (D-NY-1)
•        Michael Grimm (R-NY 11)
•        Alan Nunnelee (R-MS-1)
•        Peter King (R-NY-2)
•        Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY-4)
•        Buck McKeon (R-CA-25) (ex officio)

The meeting, which was held in the Crabtree Room of the Bland Memorial Library, opened with USMMA Superintendent, Rear Admiral James A. Helis and Deputy Maritime Administrator, Mike Rodriquez, thanking Senator John Boozeman for travelling to the first Congressional BOV meeting ever to be held at USMMA.

After the opening remarks, RADM Helis provided updates on the Department of Transportation Inspector General Report on Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault, the USMMA Advisory Board Recommendations and progress on USMMA’s Capital Improvement Program.

Following the meeting, RADM Helis and Deputy Maritime Administrator Rodriguez took Senator Boozeman on a tour of the academic buildings, upgraded kitchen and barracks, and the training vessel, T/V Kings Pointer. Later they joined the Regiment of Midshipmen for lunch in Delano Hall. Before departing the academy, Senator Boozeman took time to meet with his former interns, Midshipmen Augustus Sawatzki and Laura Trieber, and his nominee Plebe Daniel Viera.