Education: MMA 90 BS Marine Transportation (concentration Business), MBA UMASS Lowell '25, 30 years Marine Transportation Management, Leadership, Operations, Communication, Strategy, and Project Management
Dr. Marina Brock
Assistant Professor, Emergency Management Department
Coordinator, Emergency and Risk Management Concentration and Minor
Dr. Marina Brock is an Assistant Professor in the Emergency Management Department at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, bringing 17 years of higher education experience and over 25 years of service as an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Specialist with the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment. Her interdisciplinary expertise spans EHS, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Public Health, Environmental Science, and Emergency Management.
Dr. Brock is the lead faculty coordinator for the Academy’s newly established Emergency and Risk Management Concentration and Minor, which integrates applied and theoretical perspectives on risk identification, hazard control, and enterprise risk management. Through this work, she helps prepare students across disciplines to anticipate, assess, and respond to complex and interconnected risks within public and private sector systems.
Her academic and professional work focuses on advancing local and regional government initiatives by promoting the development and implementation of Safety and Risk Management Systems. She provides assessments, training, compliance guidance, and strategic planning support to public sector facilities, with a strong emphasis on system-based solutions for sustainable risk reduction and operational resilience.
Dr. Brock holds a B.A. in Environmental Economics from Simmons University, an M.S. in Occupational Health and Safety Engineering from Columbia Southern University, and a Ph.D. in Emergency and Protective Services from Capitol Technology University. Her research focuses on identifying operational gaps and barriers to the implementation of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) competency, and she is committed to evolving and evaluating strategies that enhance safety culture and enterprise-wide risk management frameworks.
She has authored and co-authored several articles, lectured widely across New England, and served as a mentor to both students and professionals. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Excellence Award and the Massachusetts Governor’s Award for Toxics Use Reduction. Her innovative prevention and mitigation initiatives have served as national models for public agencies.
A recognized leader in cross-sector collaboration, Dr. Brock was nominated for the Harvard Kennedy School’s Innovations in Government Award and appointed Member and eventually Chair of the EPA Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) in 2016. In this role, she represented U.S. local government interests in environmental and safety policy matters under the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) as part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Dr. Brock continues to engage students in applied research, promoting the development of critical skills in safety systems, risk communication, and integrated enterprise risk management, fostering the next generation of risk-aware, solution-oriented professionals.
Education: B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison; J.D., cum laude, University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.A., with distinction, U.S. Naval War College
Brian J. Connor - Bio
Brian is currently in his 9th year as a member of the Board of Trustees at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, appointed by Governor Baker for two consecutive terms. During his tenure, he has served as Board Chairman for the past three years as well as Chair of the Facilities & Finance Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, and currently serves as Chair of the Education Committee.
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 located throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 400 employees, and 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 Kaymlon Capitol. 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 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 became a nationwide organization advocating at the federal level for what is now known as the Nationwide Medicare Fee Schedule Program.
During his time at LifeLine, he employed many MMA Cadets. This relationship progressed into the founding of the MA Maritime EMS Service in 2012, a cadet-operated class one ambulance service. LifeLine donated the first Class One and Class Five ambulances, as well as an EMS golf cart. MMA-EMS is the only college-based, 100% student-run ambulance service in Massachusetts and one of only a few nationwide.
MMA EMS Cadets, certified as EMTs, provide emergency and non-emergency coverage to the Academy’s campus, responding to and transporting injured or ill persons directly to local hospitals. In recognition of his leadership and service, 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 new ambulance and expanded coverage beyond campus. In recognition of his continued leadership and support, Brian was named an “Honorary Member of the Regiment” and awarded a second Medal of Valor by Admiral Francis McDonald in 2019.
Aside from EMS, Brian serves on many boards and foundations. He is a former Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout and was recognized for his service by the Boston Council Boy Scouts. He is also an advocate for public housing and currently serves as Chairman of the Arlington Housing Authority, appointed by Governors Romney and Baker.
Brian continued his education following retirement, completing four additional master’s degrees (five total) and attending his first year of law school. He also holds a Master 100-ton Captain’s License from the USCG and founded the Massachusetts School of Boating, where he instructs novice boat owners.
As the first official “Triple Buc” at MMA, he hopes to enroll in the future Doctorate Program in Maritime Strategy & Security currently being pursued by the Academy.
Brian resides in Arlington with his wife Michele and their two children, Elizabeth and Patrick.
A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, she has led pollution response, incident command, and critical infrastructure protection efforts across domestic and international waters. She holds a Master’s in Homeland Security from Northeastern University and a B.S. in Marine Environmental Science from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
