Report: Leadership and Planning Gaps Contributing to Fragile Infrastructure Progress at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has made progress in addressing campus facility and infrastructure needs since 2022, but progress remains fragile due to a lack of continuous leadership and strategic workforce planning, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

As the nation’s only federal service academy dedicated to training licensed mariners for domestic and international trade and the transport needs of the U.S. military, the Academy plays a crucial role. Operated by the Maritime Administration, part of the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Academy has seen several changes since 2022 that have contributed to facility and infrastructure improvements.

Changes include establishing oversight bodies by DOT and the Maritime Administration for capital projects, detailing a senior executive for facilities improvements, and combining the Academy’s maintenance and capital planning departments to enhance coordination.

Since these adjustments, the Academy has completed three capital improvement projects, including an athletic field renovation. It also has four more projects underway, notably the long-delayed renovation of Samuels Hall, which houses a simulator for training midshipmen on vessel navigation. Additionally, the Maritime Administration and the Academy are developing a long-range master plan for the campus, expected to be completed by December 2024.

The GAO warns that progress at the Academy is fragile due to inconsistent leadership and lack of strategic workforce planning by the DOT and the Maritime Administration. Focused attention from DOT could provide the necessary leadership, resources, and skills to address long-standing campus challenges.

The GAO also identified deficiencies in the Academy’s cost estimation practices for capital improvements, noting a lack of policies and non-adherence to best practices in recent projects. Developing proper policies and procedures could help the Academy better assess and prioritize future costs.

The GAO report follows numerous publications since at least 2010 documenting poor and deteriorating conditions at the Academy. The report highlights ongoing poor conditions at the Academy, referencing a 2021 National Academy of Public Administration report that identified facility issues and recommended changes. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act mandates GAO to review capital improvements at the Academy, with DOT agreeing to GAO’s recommendations.

The GAO recommends that the Maritime Administration ensure the Academy maintains continuous leadership for the Office of Facilities and Infrastructure, conducts strategic workforce planning to determine needed resources, and develops and implements cost estimation policies and procedures aligned with best practices.

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