U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Leadership and Ethics Development

The USMMA Leadership and Ethics Development program educates and trains midshipmen in their journey from followership through leadership over the course of their four years at the Academy.  The current Director of the program is Pat Keane. The Director oversees a number of activities, to include the Leadership Development Program, Honor Board, various Regimental leadership and ethics trainings and Academic classes, the J. Smith Lanier `50 Distinguished Speaker Series, and team movements and special events.    

Honor Board. 

The Director is the advisor to the Regimental Honor Board.  The Regimental Honor Board is the principle means of maintaining an atmosphere of integrity and honesty in the Regiment of Midshipmen.  The Honor Concept is intended to instill in midshipmen the values and character required of a commissioned and licensed officer.  The Honor Code states that "A Midshipmen will not Lie, Cheat, or Steal."  The Honor of the Regiment is in the hands of midshipmen.  Midshipman officers assigned to the Regimental Honor Board have responsibility for the conduct of Honor education, investigations, and hearings.  Formal Hearings of Honor violations are heard by midshipmen juries of seniors.  Decisions are reviewed by the Superintendent and in some cases by the Maritime Administrator.  Sanctions range from Suspended Disenrollment with Honor Remediation to permanent disenrollment from the Academy. 

Regimental and Academic Classes.

The Director develops and conducts classes on the subjects of leadership and ethics.  He is one of the professors for the freshman leadership class, develops and conducts sophomore leadership instruction, and supports the more advanced leadership development of upper classmen, to include teaching/coaching/mentoring many of those seniors in regimental leadership positions.. Regimental periods of instruction have included discussions on involved leadership, integrity and character, social media, and communications and feedback.

The J. Smith Lanier `50 Distinguished Speaker Series.  

Endowed by a generous gift from Kings Point graduate J. Smith Lanier, this series brings speakers from a variety of backgrounds to speak at the Academy following a formal dinner with the Regiment of Midshipmen, members of the faculty and staff, and guests.  Past speakers have included distinguished leaders from both the maritime industry and the Nation’s armed forces.

Team Movements and Special Events. 

Midshipmen attend conferences on leadership and ethics at the other service academies, military and civilian colleges, and other educational and policy institutions.  These events have included the annual leadership conferences at the US Naval Academy and US Air Force Academy and the   annual Ethics Symposium at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.