[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 33 (Thursday, March 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E299-E300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING DR. WILLIAM EISENHARDT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2012

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my 
colleague Congressman Mike Thompson to recognize Dr. William 
Eisenhardt, President of the California Maritime Academy, as he retires 
after nearly 46 years of public service and 11 years as President of 
the Academy.
  Dr. Eisenhardt is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a 1966 
graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned academic 
stars in engineering. During the Vietnam War, he served as a naval 
flight officer, earning the Air Medal and Navy Commendation Medal among 
other personal and unit decorations. After his active duty service he 
attended Duke University, where he earned his Masters and Ph.D. degrees 
while also teaching as a visiting professor.
  Before coming to the California Maritime Academy, Dr. Eisenhardt 
spent 18 years at the Maine Maritime Academy as a faculty member, 
Commandant, and then Provost. Upon leaving, he was awarded an honorary 
doctorate of science in recognition of his accomplishments in 
international maritime education and his service to the Maine Maritime 
Academy.
  Dr. Eisenhardt is a career educator with a lifelong dedication to 
maritime education. He began his 11 year Presidency at Cal Maritime in 
July 2001 and his accomplishments are numerous. Under his leadership, 
the Cal Maritime Academy has increased its exposure to a variety of 
external audiences. Dr. Eisenhardt's efforts have resulted in Cal 
Maritime being listed by both U.S. News and World Report and

[[Page E300]]

Forbes magazines as among the top public colleges in the country. 
During his tenure, Dr. Eisenhardt has doubled and diversified the 
academic offerings and enrollment at Cal Maritime. The campus has now 
become the most culturally diverse maritime academy in the U.S. with 20 
percent of the cadets being women and over 30 percent from minority 
groups.
  Cal Maritime's operating budget has also increased by nearly 50 
percent and major capital improvements have exceeded $39 million with 
another $46 million in the planning and construction phase. Dr. 
Eisenhardt has overseen a five-fold expansion in charitable giving to 
the campus from alumni, industry, parents and friends. He was also 
responsible for securing the largest charitable donation in the 
Academy's history: $3 million from the American Bureau of Shipping, 
used to establish the ABS School of Maritime Policy and Management. Cal 
Maritime also boasts the world's finest Maritime Simulation Center, a 
new $15 million facility for which he led the planning and development. 
In the 2008 2010 academic years the Academy was awarded just under $11 
million in federal grants and special project allocations, the most 
ever in the history of the institution.
  Dr. Eisenhardt currently serves as a board member of the Solano 
County Economic Development Corporation and is the former Chair of the 
Council of State Maritime Academies & Colleges Consortium. He was 
active in the founding of the International Association of Maritime 
Universities and currently serves on its Executive Board. In addition, 
he serves on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Marine 
Exchange and the Northern California Maritime Security Committee 
wherein he was awarded a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Merit in 2005 
for providing leadership in helping to set up maritime security 
protocols.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. 
William Eisenhardt for his tireless and dedicated service to his 
country and higher education. I also join his wife Kathryn, two 
daughters Elizabeth and Kristin, colleagues, and friends in 
congratulating him on a successful and fulfilling career, and a very 
well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________