This 2020 report provides the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) Elaine Chao with advice and counsel in accordance with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA, or Academy) Advisory Board (Board) Charter.   Pursuant to 46 U.S. Code of Regulations, Secretary Chao appointed members to the Board in June 2019. 
This 2020 report is the first written by this Board.   Its primary purpose is to advise the Secretary, Maritime Administration (MARAD) Administrator, and Academy Superintendent on matters that need immediate and continued attention to advance the Academy toward meeting its strategic goals and objectives. 
The findings in this Annual Report are based on direct inspections and observations made during the one in-person visit by the Board to the Academy, the Zoom “visits” made by the Board with the Academy, individual visits by Board members to the Academy, oral reports and written documents provided to the Board by faculty and staff, survey data, and individual and small group discussions with Midshipmen, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, members of the maritime industry, and higher education officials.   Recommendations are based on the Board members’ collective knowledge of best practices and emerging trends and issues in higher education and the maritime industry, and on Board members’ expertise.