U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point to be 'restored to its former glory,' U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy tells graduating class

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduates lived for years in a "neglected" Kings Point campus that has fallen into deep disrepair, with students often struggling with a lack of hot water or dorms rotting with mold, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday at the university's 89th annual commencement ceremony, 

But Duffy promised the 207 USMMA graduates that the Trump administration was aware of their sacrifice and the campus, along with the nation's maritime dominance, would soon be restored to its former glory.

"For years, this institution has been neglected by Congress," Duffy said during his commencement address. "It's been mismanaged. The campus has been allowed to fall into disrepair. It's unbecoming of a national service academy. It's unfair, given the depth of sacrifice you all have made."

USMMA, which opened in 1943, has seen its physical condition deteriorate in recent decades with virtually every building on its 82-acre campus now exceeding its life expectancy and requiring replacement or major renovation, according to a 2022 report by the school's Maritime Security Infrastructure Council, which developed a billion-dollar improvement plan.

In April, federal officials announced a 10-year plan to modernize and overhaul the aging campus would be overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A bipartisan bill, introduced in March by four Long Island House members — two Democrats and two Republicans — proposed a $1.02 billion upgrade of the campus. If funding is approved by Congress, the university would remain operational during the construction period.

In early April, Duffy toured USMMA — one of five federal service academies and the first to accept women — and found a campus where midshipmen went months without hot water in their shower, aging buildings with mold and tar dripping from ceilings.

"A lot of people may have just given up with so many challenges," Duffy said. "You'd expect a dampened spirit. But when I first came to the academy in April ... I found the most remarkable group of men and women whose spirits could not be broken. I saw a group that, despite being disrespected and uncared for, was more passionate than ever about serving their country."

Many of the buildings on USMMA's campus date back to the founding of the institution, when they were quickly constructed during World War II and meant to be temporary.

Modern information technology is nearly nonexistent in several building, the infrastructure council found, "and what is available cannot accommodate even the most basic digital needs." The council's proposal calls for new or renovated academic buildings, libraries, training facilities, parking structures, faculty and senior housing, and upgrades to utilities, IT and campus security.

USMMA, which is overseen by the DOT, trains men and women to work on deep sea vessels and in the military.

More than 40% of this year's USMMA graduates, university officials said, will move on to the Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard or Air Force Reserve — all during a precarious time in the nation's defense following the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

"America needs young military officers who understand the role of logistics and the larger strategic picture, and who know that America cannot just be ready for battle, but ready for war," Vice Adm. Joanna Nunan, USMMA's superintendent, said Monday. "America needs leaders who can turn ideas into reality."

While Duffy did not directly mention the Iranian strikes in his remarks Monday, he said USMMA graduates should be prepared to serve in potential military conflicts.

"This mission you're all about to embark on could not be more important, at this very moment when our nation stands on the precipice of potential conflict in the Middle East," Duffy said. "Whether it's the Suez Canal or the South China Sea, there are rough waters ahead. You may find yourself in harm's way. And you do it for your country."

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.