U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces New Superintendent for United States Merchant Marine Academy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr. will become the new Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. Admiral Greene holds a Merchant Marine Master’s license and is a 1978 Academy graduate.

“Rear Admiral Greene will bring strong leadership to the Academy,” said Secretary LaHood. “His commitment to the midshipmen, his experience as an Academy graduate, and his distinguished naval career have given him the perspective and organizational strengths needed to move the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy forward.”

Rear Admiral Greene came to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy from the U.S. Navy, where he was most recently Director of the Navy Irregular Warfare Office. There he developed and employed a global maritime preventive security strategy.

Before that, Rear Admiral Greene served as Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, where he helped establish the first multinational Maritime Center of Excellence in East Africa.

“Rear Admiral Greene’s background and enthusiasm make him not only an excellent choice for Superintendent, but also an important member of the leadership team at the U.S. Maritime Administration,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda.

Rear Admiral Greene’s Navy service also includes a post as Director of the Navy Europe/Africa Policy, Resources and Strategy in Naples, Italy where he formulated the Navy’s maritime security and safety strategy for the Gulf of Guinea.

Previously, as Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Chairman of the Seamanship and Navigation Department at the United States Naval Academy, he shaped the mandatory professional mariner curriculum and instruction for 4,000 midshipmen.

As Chief of Staff for the U.S. Naval Surface Forces, Greene managed the training, maintenance, and personnel readiness for more than 200 surface ships. Additionally, Greene was commanding officer of two surface combatants, Commander of Destroyer Squadron 31, and served on The Joint Staff as Chief of the Northeast Asia/China Division at the Pentagon.

In addition to his degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Greene holds advanced degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School and the National Defense University.