Directory

• Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Master of Business Administration from Babson College
• Business Administration Coordinator teaching a wide range of business subjects at Cape Cod Community College
• Visiting lecturer at University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth and Bridgewater State University

LTC Marisol A. Chalas
Garrison Commander
U.S. Army Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Dublin, CA

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Marisol A. Chalas was born in Bani, Dominican Republic, and moved to the United States with her family to Massachusetts at the age of nine. She began her military career as an enlisted Soldier in July 1990. In 2001 she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation branch from the Georgia Military Institute Officer Candidate School.

LTC Chalas has operations and strategic experience at the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) level. LTC Chalas’ international duties entail Battle Captain and Platoon Leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Aviation Liaison in the Dominican Republic under a Combined Joint Task Force. Other assignments include Lean Six Sigma advisor, Force Management and Exchange Officer serving with the Canadian Forces in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and two rotations as Company Commander.

Her military education includes the Aviation Officer Basic Course, UH-60 Aviator Qualification Course, Aviation Captain’s Career Course, Intermediate Level Education (ILE), the Army Force Management Course, the Advance Operations Course (AOC), and the Strategic Fellows Program at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC. LTC Chalas received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University, and a Master in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. LTC Chalas is a certified Lean and Six Sigma Black Belt.

LTC Chalas has an extensive corporate career record with vast international experience. She worked for GE, where she held several senior management roles. She worked in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. LTC Chalas is a graduate of GE’s Nuclear Technical Leadership Program. LTC Chalas also worked for Booz Allen Hamilton as a Process Improvement Consultant.

Her awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal (4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Service Star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Silver Hourglass/M Device), Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, FORSCOM Ironwoman Award, GEN George J. Hearn Trophy, Senior Aviator Badge, and Army Staff Identification Badge. She is a recipient of the Propeller Club Port of Boston Academic Award. LTC Chalas was named Maritime Person of the Year by Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 2016. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. LTC Chalas received the USCIS Outstanding American by Choice award in 2017. In March 2021, she was awarded the Medal of Merit by Dominican President Luis Abinader. LTC Chalas was also declared a Distinguished Citizen by the Dominican Senate and House of Representatives.

LTC Chalas served as Legislative Fellow for Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Minnesota District 4, in the United States House of Representatives. She later served as an Army Congressional Budget Liaison in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army Financial Management and Comptroller (ASA-FM&C). She was responsible for Aviation, Missiles, and Chemical portfolios. LTC Chalas served as the Legislative Assistant to the 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Pentagon. She recently served as Reserve Schools Branch Chief at HRC, Fort Knox, KY. LTC Chalas assumed Garrison Command on 31 May 2022. LTC Chalas is a student at the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) Distance Education Program (DEP) member of the Class of 2023.

Brian J. Connor is a 38-year veteran of the Emergency Medical Service Industry. 

Brian began his career as an EMT at age 19, following his graduation from the Northeastern University EMT Program in 1979. He was hired as an EMT for Armstrong Ambulance Service, one of the oldest family-owned businesses in Massachusetts. He served in many clinical and managerial positions throughout the next 26 years, ultimately serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the last ten years while employed at Armstrong.

On April 25, 2006, Brian established LifeLine Ambulance Service.  LifeLine quickly became one of the largest privately-owned ambulance companies in New England; with 13 offices strategically located throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 400 employees and fielding a fleet of more than 160 vehicles.  Collectively LifeLine transported over 350 patients each day.   LifeLine was awarded the “Pacesetters” award from the Boston Business Journal in April 2013 and was featured in the Boston Business Journal on January 25, 2013.  On July 1, 2015, LifeLine and its subsidiaries were sold to Kamylon Capitol, a Massachusetts based holding company. Brian remained on as a Senior Advisor and Consultant and retired on January 1, 2017.

During his 38-year career in EMS, Brian also served as President of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association for over 14 years; served on many local and state EMS committees and advisory boards; and founded the “Emergency Medical Coalition of Ambulance Providers” in 2002.  EMCAP was a nationwide organization made up of ambulance providers focused on advocating on the federal level on the establishment and implementation of what’s now known as the Nationwide Medicare Fee Schedule Program.

As a frequent employer and supporter of MMA students; Brian helped establish the MA Maritime EMS System through his donation of an Ambulance, Ford Explorer first responder unit and Golf Cart in 2012.  MMA-EMS is the only college-based, 100% student-run EMS club in Massachusetts, and a select few nationwide, that owns and operates their own Class I Licensed Ambulance; providing emergency and non-emergency coverage to the Academy’s entire Campus; and transporting those injured or ill persons directly to local hospitals.  In recognition of his leadership and service to the Academy, Brian was awarded the Massachusetts Maritime Medal of Valor by Admiral Richard Gurnon on June 13, 2013.

In 2018, through a $100,000 grant from the Connor Family, MMA-EMS purchased a brand-new Ambulance and now provides EMS coverage beyond the Academy’s Campus.  I n recognition of his continued leadership and support of MMA-EMS, Brian was named an “Honorary Member of the Regiment” by the Cadets and awarded his second Medal of Valor by Admiral Francis McDonald in 2019.

Aside from EMS, Brian serves on many Hospital Boards and Foundations, he is a former Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout and was recognized for his many years of service by the Boston Council Boy Scout Council.  Brian is also an advocate for public housing, currently serving as Chairman to the Arlington Housing Authority, appointed by both Governor Romney and Governor Baker.

His hobbies are restoring antique ambulances, boating, and fishing.  He also holds a 50 GRT Masters License from the United States Merchant Marine and during the summer Captains for Sea Tow, rescuing stranded boaters.

Brian is a 1984 graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He also received a Master’s Degree in Management in 1997 from Lesley University, Master’s Degree in Emergency Management in 2018 from Massachusetts Maritime Academy; and is currently completing both his Master’s Degree in Maritime Business and a Master’s Degree in Facilities Management  at MMA, due to graduate with both Masters in the spring of 2020.  Following this, Brian will be the first “Triple Buc”; the first person in the Academy’s history to have earned three separate degrees.

Brian resides in Arlington with his wife, Michele and two children, Elizabeth and Patrick.

• Bachelor of Science from St. Xavier's College, India
• Master of Science in Statistics from Indian Statistical Institute, India
• Ph.D in Economics from Princeton University, USA
• Professor Ani Dasgupta teaches Microeconomics, Finance and Quantitative Methods of Management. He also serves as the faculty advisor of the Academy's Business/Investment club. He joined the Academy at the time of the inception of the International Maritime Business department and served as its first chairperson. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Economics Department at Boston University, where since 2004, he has taught graduate statistics and econometrics courses. In the past, he has served as full-time faculty at Penn State University, visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and adjunct faculty at Tufts University.
• Outside academia, Dr. Dasgupta has worked as the chief economist of a dotcom, and provided consulting services in the areas of economics and operations to companies. His research publications have appeared in prestigious journals such as Management Science, Journal of Economic Theory and International Journal of Game Theory, and he is involved with ongoing research projects in the areas of Game Theory and Labor Economics.
• Beyond professional activities, he plays the guitar and drums, writes fiction and poetry and manages to waste countless hours playing chess on the internet.

• Bachelor and Master of  Arts in Economics from Jadavpur University, India.
• Ph.D in Economics from Victoria University, Australia
• Research interest includes demand estimation and pricing issues of ports, environmental economics, international trade and maritime business.
• Founding member of the International Maritime Business department and has been with the Academy since 2000. Besides advising a large number of students in the department, she teaches Organization Management, Macroeconomics for Business, Business Ethics and Negotiation, International Business and Ocean Shipping and  Sustainable Blue Economy..
• Served as the sea term coordinator and  the Experiential Learning coordinator for the department. She also served as a member of the All College Committee and Curriculum Committee. Dr. Ghosh has  presented several papers at the Annual General Assemblies of IAMU, the latest being in Japan in November 2019. She also coordinated several IMB student teams to attend the IAMU conference where their papers and presentations received top honors.  
• Her most significant responsibility during 2014-15 was to lead the IACBE accreditation initiative for the IMB department.
• She is also instrumental in conceptualizing the IMB Experiential Learning program that takes students to different maritime hubs around the world, gaining cultural and practical exposure to the business of shipping in a global perspective.

James F. Kane serves as Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Operations for the A.D. Makepeace Company, a land holding company in southeastern Massachusetts.  In that role Jim oversees all facets of land use planning, permitting and plan implementation whether it is a residential, commercial, conservation/open space or a renewable energy use. He is also responsible for all infrastructure planning, development and execution to serve company and regional needs for water, waste-water, property and open space management as well operational profit and investment for each division.

Jim has worked cooperatively and successfully with the many towns in which the company owns land to develop and implement innovative zoning by-laws to guarantee conservation of critical open space habitats that serve to protect unique landscapes while allowing for the development of traditional New England villages.  

While with Makepeace, Jim undertook and completed an extensive analysis of alternative energy opportunities within the Company’s holdings.  Project and market viability analysis included large-scale solar, hydro-electric generation, geothermal and wind energy.   

Prior to returning to Massachusetts and joining the A.D. Makepeace Company, Jim served as Deputy Executive Director/CFO of the Republican Governors Association in Washington DC where he was responsible for all financial and administrative operations and national polling and political advertisement.   In the years before joining the RGA, Jim served in various senior roles in the Weld/Cellucci administration, first in the Governor’s office as Deputy Chief Policy Advisor and at the Massachusetts Government Land Bank where he oversaw the merger of two quasi-public agencies, Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency and Massachusetts Government Land Bank into MassDevelopment, and the redevelopment of Fort Devens.  He later served as Chief of Operations at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

Jim earned an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from College of the Holy Cross and a master's degree in public administration from Clark University and is in his third term as a member of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen, and presently serving as Chairman of the Beal Early Childhood Center Building Committee.   Jim resides in Shrewsbury with his wife Hannah and three wonderful children.

Julie McMichen graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and a U.S.C.G. 3rd Assistant Engineer’s License.

Upon graduation, Ms. McMichen had a brief shipping career with Marine Transport Lines. Julie was hired by Electric Boat in 1988 as the first female engineer in the department of Nuclear Procurement Quality Control. During this time, she worked on several main and auxiliary components in the engine room for the Seawolf Class. In October of 1993, Julie returned to MMA as an employee and worked onboard the T/S Patriot State as a permanent crew member in the capacity of Purser/Supplier Officer for 7 years. From 2000-2004, Julie worked in Student Services as 5th Company Officer. Julie returned to Electric Boat and has been working in Supplier Quality as an Engineering Specialist in areas of propulsion, engine room components and missile systems in new construction for the Virginia and Columbia Class submarines for the past 16 years. Thirteen of the 16 years was as the EB resident engineer at Northrop Grumman in Sunnyvale, CA which is 10 miles from her birthplace. Things do come full circle!

Ms. McMichen was on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Alumni Association from 2002-2020 and has served as a Board member, Secretary, Vice President and first female President. Julie is an active parishioner of St. Bonaventure in Manomet, member of the American Society of Quality and also the Society of Women Engineers.

Julie lives in Sagamore Beach, MA, near many family members including her parents and brother, Richard. Her brother, T. Blane is a 1983 graduate of the Academy and lives in Zionsville, IN. Julie enjoys skiing, hiking, knitting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Ms. McMichen dedicates this appointment to the memory of our shipmate and friend, Prendi.

• Ph.D., Bachelor of Law, and Master of Law from University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
• Durban South Africa Attorney of the High Court
• South Africa Rough Diamond Certification - De Beers Diamond School, South Africa
• Dr. Ndlovu specializes in commercial legal principles of international trade particularly, Maritime Law/Maritime Business (main specialty) which directly includes, International Commerce, International Trade, Environmental Regulation, International Diamond Trade Law and other International Law subjects. Her research has extended to Asia Pacific trade matters, Maritime Pedagogy, the Mining of Sea Areas, employment of vessels for mining and the Law of the Sea. She has coordinated the Maritime Law and Commerce programs in different nations in service to the academic institutions she has been affiliated with during her career.
• As a practicing maritime lawyer, Dr. Ndlovu provides consultancy services to government bodies such as the Ports Regulator in South Africa, legal compliance advice and policy advice and support to various commercial entities and law firms has sat as an arbitrator/assessor in various tribunals bringing specialized academic and practical legal knowledge of maritime business matters.
• She has written various peer reviewed journals and published books with her most recent book 'Diamond Law' receiving a citation for ‘Most Notable Publication Received in the Energy and Natural Resources Law Journal (JERL) Vol. 31 No 3 2013.