Captain Harry Bolton Named New Master of CMA's Training Ship

(Vallejo, CA – April 21, 2008): Captain Harry Bolton, a 1978 deck-officer graduate of the California Maritime Academy, has accepted the position of Master of the University's 500-foot Training Ship Golden Bear. He assumes the position from Commodore John Keever, who recently retired as the school's Vice President for Marine Programs. He will join the University in May and assume command of Golden Bear for the first time when she calls Tahiti at the mid-point of her first of two two-month 2008 training voyages to the Southern Pacific.

Captain Bolton has over three decades of maritime experience and 21 years in vessel command, having worked through the American Maritime Officers (AMO) organization and for companies including Bay Tankers, and General Dynamics/American Overseas Marine. In the latter position, he served for nearly two decades as master of a U.S. Maritime Preposition Ship, home-ported in the Western Pacific and the Middle East to deliver humanitarian assistance and support for the Persian Gulf and Iraq wars. He is the recipient of numerous awards, medals and citations for meritorious service and outstanding performance.

He is a First Class Pilot, and has served as a consultant to several maritime companies, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy on matters including equipment design and implementation. He also designed and developed the English curriculum at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in the Republic of the Philippines.

Captain Bolton's selection followed an exhaustive worldwide search. "The post of Training Ship is truly unique, and not easy to fill," notes Cal Maritime President William B. Eisenhardt. "In addition to the standard maritime skills of vessel command and management, it also requires an individual who is good at working with young people, who teaches by example, and one who serves as leader, delegator, diplomat, and innovator."

"The training ship is a critical element of the University's unique educational program year-round. During the four months when the Golden Bear is at sea each year, she is home and floating classroom for a significant number of our cadets, as well as faculty and staff. At that time, the ship's Master is an extension of my office. The Master must have the ability to handle challenges as they arise and make decisions independently. Captain Harry Bolton is an excellent successor to Commodore John Keever who served this institution with skill and distinction for nearly three decades."

President Eisenhardt also expressed his deep thanks to the University's Search Committee, headed by Dr. Lee Kerschner, Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the California State University system, for their detailed work in screening applications and arranging interviews with the finalist candidates by representatives of the school's faculty, staff and student body.

For more information, contact Doug Webster at (707) 654-1720 or [email protected].

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