Fort Schuyler Magazine Spring 2021

GRADUATES SHARE THEIR TALENTS

One of the most amazing aspects about being a graduate of SUNY Maritime College is the breadth of talent that graduates possess, share with each other and the world. The worldwide pandemic has allowed some alumni to focus their energies on developing these gifts and finding creative ways of sharing them, oftentimes promoting the College and the maritime industry in the process. Some of our graduates have shared their talents in YouTube and Linkedin videos, others publish their work in print. What follows is only a few of many talented grads.

Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano ’89 After a disappointing experience during an interview for The Federalist, in which his defense of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 was edited in favor of anti-Jones Act verbiage, Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano ‘89, Associate Professor at Campbell University started his own podcast, “The American Merchant Marine.” He then created his own YouTube channel, Sal Mercogliano. His informative videos lay the foundation in understanding the important role played by the merchant marines in the U.S., world trade, and international politics. Casting a wide net to reach those outside of the maritime industry, Dr. Salvatore hopes to reach the same demographic as the Cato Institute and others seeking to dismantle the Jones Act, and counter that effort through his knowledge and experience. Most recently, Dr. Salvatore shared his knowledge about the merchant marines by providing updates during the Suez Canal crisis involving the Ever Given.

Sean Tortora ’91 Captain Sean Tortora ‘91 recently published his first novel. “Steaming to Djibouti: My First Hitch on an Underway Replenishment Ship”. The story is of a young man getting his sea legs as he experiences life as a third mate. His stories of working for MSC in the 1980s and coming into his own as a merchant mariner reflect how much the industry has changed. This is Tortora’s second book. The first, “Study Guide for Marine Fire Prevention, Firefighting & Safety” is currently in use in his classes.

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