GLMA's Michael Hochscheidt receives Merchant Marine Outstanding Achievement Medal

TRAVERSE CITY —  Northwestern Michigan College Great Lakes Maritime Academy Engineering Department Head Michael Hochscheidt was presented the Merchant Marine Outstanding Achievement Medal at the GLMA’s graduation ceremony, Saturday, May 3.

Hochscheidt was presented the award by Joel Szabat, an executive in the Maritime Administration, currently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. Szabat presented the award to Hochscheidt on behalf of Acting Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen.  

The award was presented to Hochscheidt in honor of his 35 years of service as an instructor at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, for his hard, work, uncompromising professionalism, and most of all his legacy of developing world class Merchant Marine officers.  In February 2012, the Maritime Administration honored GLMA instructor Bob Mason with the same award in honor of his service to the Merchant Marine, and his record of training pilots for Great Lakes service. Mason and Hochscheidt both began their career as instructors at GLMA on the same date.  They are believed to be the only individuals on the Great Lakes who have been awarded the Merchant Marine Outstanding Achievement Medal.

The Maritime Administration may bestow personal honors on individuals in recognition of their service to the United States Merchant Marine.  These honors are reserved for those who meet the very highest of standards.  Among the highest honors that the Maritime Administrator can bestow is the Merchant Marine Outstanding Achievement Medal.

This medal may be awarded to those leaders in the maritime industry who have dedicated years of service or achievement and given extraordinarily valuable contributions to the maritime industry. 

Release date: May 5, 2014

For more information:

Adm. Jerry Achenbach, Superintendent, NMC Great Lakes Maritime Academy
(231) 995-1200
gachenbach@nmc.edu