Webb Institute Honors Thomas Crowley

From left to right: President R. Keith Michel, Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., Dr. George Campbell, Jr. Photo: The Webb Institute

Webb Institute presented Mr. Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Crowley Maritime (Oakland, CA), with an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science degree at Webb Institute’s 119th commencement on Saturday, June 20th.

Since 1994, Thomas B. Crowley, Jr. has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crowley Maritime, succeeding his father and grandfather in these roles, dating back to the company’s founding in 1892. Today, Crowley is a US-based, $2 billion-a-year marine solutions, energy, and logistics services company with operations around the world.

Mr. Crowley’s Honorary Degree Citation reads, “A staunch supporter of the American maritime industry, Mr. Crowley has invested substantial resources in the construction of American-built tugboats, heavy-lift flat-deck barges, articulated tug barges (ATBs), tankers and now, LNG-powered ConRo ships for use in the US-Puerto Rico trade, utilizing best-available technology with a focus on safety, environmental protection, performance, and efficiency.”

The Citation also comments on Mr. Crowley’s dedication to education, management training, and other initiatives, “to build a collaborative, high-performance culture.” In 2007, he generously created the Thomas B. Crowley, Sr. Memorial Scholarship at Webb Institute in memory of his late father. In addition, the Marty Johnson ’88 Leadership Fund was established to expand Webb’s Leadership Program, which has now grown into a week-long event each fall, welcoming the incoming freshman class and current students with individual and team projects. Johnson was a 1988 Webb graduate and Crowley senior naval architect who died while on a salvage assignment in 2006.

During his commencement address, Dr. Crowley reflected on his career with the 123-year-old family business and shared some of what he has learned with Webb Institute students who will be joining the professional maritime community. His speech touched on many topics, including the value of learning the business from the bottom up, having passion and a strong work ethic, thinking creatively, being persistent in the face of adversity, and continuing education as a lifetime pursuit.

In Dr. Crowley’s closing remarks, he noted, “As engineers, I believe you are natural problem solvers and that you will accomplish some extraordinary things during your careers. Know that we are counting on you. The industry is counting on you.”

This year, Webb awarded twenty Bachelor of Science degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. After graduation, the students will be spread across the globe. A few of the companies they will be joining include, Resolve Marine, Bruce S. Rosenblatt & Associates, Herbert Engineering Corporation, and ExxonMobil Development Company. Others will attend graduate school in the U.S. and Europe.

All students admitted to Webb Institute are provided a full-tuition scholarship, thereby assuring highly capable students the opportunity to receive an excellent education regardless of financial means.

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