Aidan McAllister Finn of Warwick recently graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U. S. armed forces. Finn will fulfill his commitment serving on his unlimited Third Assistant Engineer’s License in the U.S. Merchant Marine and as a U.S. Navy Strategic Sealift Officer. Provided photo.
Aidan McAllister Finn, son of Brendan and Megan Finn of Warwick recently graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point.
Finn earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U. S. armed forces. He also earned a Merchant Marine officer license, qualifying him to serve as an officer on any ship in the U.S. flag merchant marine.
Finn is a graduate of Warwick Valley High School.
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of five U.S. service academies. It educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers to serve the nation during peace and war. In addition to the rigorous academic and physical requirements for admission, applicants must be nominated by a member of the House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. Finn was nominated by U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
All USMMA graduates incur an obligation to serve the United States. The U.S. Flag Merchant Marine - manned exclusively by American mariners - is essential for securing the country’s commerce in peacetime and delivering warfighters, weapons and military supplies in times of conflict.
The majority of “Kings Pointers” serve for eight years as Navy reservists in the Strategic Sealift Officer Program while working aboard U.S. flag vessels; others will serve on active duty in our nation’s armed forces.
Finn will fulfill his commitment serving on his unlimited Third Assistant Engineer’s License in the U.S. Merchant Marine and as a U.S. Navy Strategic Sealift Officer.
As part of his four-year education, Finn spent one year training as a cadet aboard ocean going vessels.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks was the commencement speaker.
“Merchant mariners remain an indispensable component of our national defense, because they continue to deliver: To Europe, where more than 70 vessels have helped bring supplies and equipment to U.S. allies and partners after Russia once again invaded Ukraine; And to the Indo-Pacific, where multiple strategic sealift ships provide critical maritime prepositioning of U.S. military equipment and supplies,” Hicks told the graduates. “What so many of you will do as merchant mariners enables our ability to project power globally, to respond to crises and contingencies on short notice, and to campaign in support of joint operations.”