Through the flip of a coin, Austin Ford chose to attend Maritime College. "I ultimately came to Maritime because I was interested in pursuing a career shipping out in the Merchant Fleet and hopefully coming back to the Chesapeake Bay," said the Baltimore, MD native. As an ROTC student earning a degree in Marine Transportation with a minor in Naval Science, he was determined to make the most his four years on campus.

Looking back as an incoming freshman in the Regiment of Cadets, adjusting to a new lifestyle was challenging, yet he willingly embraced the obstacles straight on.  Within the first few days of Indoctrination, he ran for a leadership position in student government and was elected 4/C President. His involvement in the Student Government Association (SGA) continued to grow and he took on additional leadership positions. The previous roles he held as sophomore class president and secretary of the student body prepared him for his current role as SGA President, “It has been a lot of work, but I enjoy working with and for my classmates and being a source of support."

Ford always seeks to improve the lives of his community members and considers the founding of the Humans to Humans Club to be his greatest accomplishment thus far. He took the lead in organizing disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and arranged a trip for nearly 40 Maritime College students to help rebuild homes in St. John.

Ford has been named the recipient of the Spring 2020 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. The award honors those students who best demonstrate the integration of their academic excellence with other aspects of their lives such as leadership, campus involvement, athletics, career achievement, community service or creative and performing arts. Surprised by the announcement of the award, Austin reflects, “I am honored to have been chosen. There are so many others who deserve it as well.”

Upon graduation, he is enthusiastic for any opportunity to serve in either the maritime industry or the Navy.