Rear Admiral John A. Okon
Rear Admiral John A. Okon, USN (ret), is President of Maritime College. He was appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees in June 2024 and assumed the leadership post in July 2024, becoming the 12th President of the College.
A native of Syracuse, NY, he is a retired Naval Officer with over 33 years of service. In the Navy, Rear Admiral Okon served as a Surface Warfare Officer, Meteorology and Oceanography Officer, and Information Warfare Officer. He commanded Naval Antisubmarine Warfare Center, Yokosuka, Japan; Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Monterey, CA; and Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Bay St. Louis, MS. He was also the Navigator of the Navy, Hydrographer of the Navy, and Oceanographer of the Navy.
Rear Admiral Okon graduated from Maritime College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School in 2003 with a Master of Science in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, and Naval War College in 2007 with a Master of Arts in National Security Studies.
He is married to the former Valerie Gessner of Catskill, NY, Maritime College Class of 1992.
A Message from the President
A Year of Momentum, Optimism, and a Future Full of Opportunity
Dear Maritime College Family,
As we close out the 2025–2026 academic year, I hope you share with me a deep sense of pride in what we have accomplished together and an even greater sense of optimism for where Maritime College is headed.
This year was not about standing still. It was about building momentum.
From the first day of the academic year, we committed ourselves to a clear mission: strengthen Maritime College academically, financially, culturally, and operationally while always keeping Students First, Maritime Always at the center of every decision we make. Today, I am proud to say that Maritime College is stronger, more focused, and better positioned for the future than at any point in recent memory.
That progress belongs to the entire Maritime Nation.
Like every meaningful voyage, this year brought challenges alongside opportunity. Yet time and again, the Maritime family demonstrated exactly what makes Fort Schuyler special: resilience, grit, professionalism, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to one another and to our mission.
Across the College, we made measurable and meaningful progress.
Enrollment continued to grow, placing Maritime College #1 among SUNY state-operated colleges and universities in enrollment growth. For the second consecutive year, we balanced the College budget and strengthened our long-term financial position through disciplined stewardship and strategic decision-making. At the same time, philanthropy and alumni engagement reached new heights, including a record-breaking year in annual fundraising surpassing $3 million and another successful Giving Day that generated more than $350,000 in support of our students.
Academically, Maritime continues to distinguish itself as a national leader. Our students earned first and second place honors in the CMA Scholarship Competition, we established a new Nuclear Science Minor that launches next academic year, and we secured the largest number of commercial cadet shipping billets in more than a decade. These accomplishments are not accidental, they are the result of dedicated faculty and staff, and ambitious students.
Our commitment to student success also accelerated in important ways. The Academic Momentum Campaign is creating a stronger culture of academic accountability and support aimed at improving retention, graduation rates, and license outcomes. The Student Success Center is no longer simply an idea, it is becoming a transformational reality for this campus. More than $1.3 million in scholarships and PIFF loans were secured for students participating in SST 2026, and employer engagement and career opportunities continue to expand for our cadets and students.
Student life and campus culture also moved forward in powerful ways this year. From the return of Women's Basketball to upgrades across residence halls, athletic facilities, classrooms, and student spaces, we continued investing in the daily experience of our students. Our athletic programs also delivered an exceptional year of competitive success, highlighted by Men's Lacrosse capturing the Skyline Conference Championship, numerous postseason honors earned by our student-athletes, and Maritime reclaiming the season head-to-head competition against Kings Point. These accomplishments reflect not only competitive excellence, but the discipline, teamwork, and leadership that define Maritime students both on and off the field. Renovations to First and Second Battalion dormitories are progressing well and will be completed before the start of the fall semester. We also continued strengthening awareness that mental health is health through wellness initiatives and campus-wide programming designed to support our entire campus community.
At the same time, Maritime College's prominence continues to grow well beyond the walls of Fort Schuyler. National exposure through NPR, Forbes, and WorkBoat, combined with expanded marketing throughout the East Coast, helped elevate the visibility of the College and the importance of our mission. The launch of a new website and virtual tour now better tells the Maritime story, who we are, what we stand for, and why this institution matters.
Most importantly, our culture is getting stronger.
Through Regiment activities, athletics, leadership development, student programming, and the everyday work happening across campus, we are reinforcing a culture grounded in loyalty, valor and leadership. We are developing leaders prepared not only for successful careers, but for lives of consequence and impact.
We also recognize the larger moment before us. Across the nation, the importance of maritime strength, economic security, and national defense has never been clearer. The need for licensed mariners, skilled professionals, and principled leaders continues to grow. Maritime College is uniquely positioned to answer that call, and we must continue rising to meet it.
Our Voyage Plan and Fiscal Stability Plan are helping chart that course. These are not simply strategic documents; they are living proof to our commitment to the future of Maritime College. Commitments to academic excellence. Commitments to student success and experience. Commitments to financial strength. Commitments to ensuring that Maritime College remains First and Foremost for generations to come.
To our students: thank you for your resilience, discipline, and pride in wearing the name Maritime. You inspire us every day.
To our faculty and staff: thank you for your professionalism, commitment, and belief in our mission and our students.
To our alumni, industry partners, parents, and supporters: thank you for standing beside us and investing in the future of THE Maritime College.
Together, we are not simply preserving a legacy, we are building the next great chapter in the history of Maritime College.
The momentum is real.
The future is bright.
And the opportunities before us have never been greater.
Now more than ever, let us continue showing the world what it means to be New York Maritime First and Foremost.
With utmost respect and gratitude,
John