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Alumni Profile

PROMOTING PARTNERSHIPS

Chosen as an Outstanding Alumni, Cmdr. Jason Smith ’96 emphasizes the value of “connecting” people on the job and through MMA.

Cmdr. Smith received a 2015 Outstanding Alum-

nus Award, which was presented at the 2016

Homecoming Banquet to coincide with his 20th

class reunion.

What is your present career position?

I’m a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard and

currently lead the Coast Guard’s Liquefied Gas

Carrier National Center of Expertise in Port

Arthur, Texas, a specialized unit that trains and

assists field inspectors and industry representa-

tives on regulatory aspects of the liquefied gas

industry, from large-scale liquefied gas carriers

to vessels that use liquefied gas as a fuel.

What are highlights of your progress from MMA to

your current job?

I’ve had an enjoyable career with the Coast

Guard, which actually started while I was at

MMA. I was an enlisted reservist since I was

a sophomore and continued to serve upon

graduation. I have been at units in Washing-

ton, Oregon, Netherlands, Washington, DC,

Massachusetts, and now in Texas.

Although my primary role has been with

the inspection of vessels, I’ve had the opportu-

nity to be involved in incident management on

major oil spills and security incidents. One of the

most memorable assignments was as a liaison to

the International Maritime Organization where

I served as a U.S. delegate on the development of

international policy.

What personal philosophy has guided you through the

years?

I’ve always relied on the fact that I can’t do it

alone and need others to obtain mission success.

Realizing this, I have found it’s most important

to network and build partnerships inside and

outside the Coast Guard.

What did you learn at MMA that has served you as a

Coast Guard officer?

The maritime profession and teamwork. From a

technical perspective, the training I received at

MMA to be a mariner allows me to relate to those

I now serve to protect. This insight provides not

only the understanding of maritime operations

and processes, but also the limitations and chal-

lenges mariners face.

From a leadership perspective, the emphasis

on teamwork and how we cannot succeed alone

has allowed me to work together with Coast

Guard, other government agencies and industry

partners to accomplish goals. Cooperation and

understanding the assets each member brings to

the table will always produce the best results.

What led you to MMA?

My dad was in the Coast Guard for a few years

and always spoke highly of going to sea and the

camaraderie that is associated with it.

When I was looking for college opportunities,

I met Jeff Wright (then Admissions Director) at

a college fair who explained all that MMA had to

offer, much of which sounded similar to what my

dad had described. A combination of these two

influences made for an easy choice.

Who are your mentors?

I have many from various aspects of my career

and still, maybe even more so now, rely on them

for guidance and direction.

I stay in touch with my advisor from MMA,

Dr. Shashi Kumar who set me in the right direc-

tion from the start.

Since leaving MMA, some of my Coast Guard

supervisors and colleagues have taken me under

their wing and mentored me along the way.

Finally, I found that the MMA alumni network

serves as a form of mentorship. I consider many

fellow alumni to be mentors, such as Capt. Steve

Palmer ’72, who has supported and advocated

for me in many ways.

I’ve recently attended a few alumni events,

and each time I’ve looked around the room to see

some of the most successful maritime profession-

als in the field. It would be great if there was a

way to link these current maritime leaders with

future leaders at MMA.

I encourage any current student or recent

graduate to engage with the alumni office and

contact active alumni with a successful career

path in line with what you want to do. The life

long relationship you may gain will be well worth

the initial investment.

What are some of the highlights of your experience

at MMA?

Like most MMA graduates, cruise and cadet

shipping top the list. Having the opportunity to

get hands-on training and see the world can’t be

beat by any college. I will never forget the shared

experiences and friendships I gained at MMA.

When you first graduated could you envision where

your career might lead?

Well, I continue to ask myself that question, and

still don’t know where my career might lead.

Even though the Coast Guard career path is

quite linear and predictable, it is also competitive,

so I never knew if I would be able to make it a

career. I always hoped it would lead to 20 years

for retirement, and now I can say I accomplished

at least that goal.

I have had amazing assignments, from being

an overseas inspector in Rotterdam with respon-

sibility for inspection of U.S. vessels throughout

Europe, Africa and the Middle East to serving

as U.S. liaison to the International Maritime

Organization.

One of my mentors once told me, the

proof you love your job is if you can say every

assignment you are in is your favorite, and I am

fortunate to be able to say that.

In your present job, safety and protection of the envi-

ronment are major concerns. What are your thoughts

about how the Coast Guard and merchant mariners

can better cooperate along these lines?

The Coast Guard alone cannot ensure safety

at sea; it needs support from the mariners who

work and live at sea. Collaborating with the Coast

Guard should be thought of as a mutually bene-

ficial arrangement. The same goes for the Coast

Guard, establishing an open and close relation-

ship with mariners and maritime representatives

is a must to accomplish our mission.

We rely on teamwork with those from within

the industry and all concerned citizens to keep

our waters and mariners safe.

Cmdr. Smith at the Panama Canal Vessel Traffic Center

On that note