CMES Instructor Tom Cannon Honored

Cannon honored by Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton with rare award, the Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement. Medal reflects Tom's forty years of active service, unique career achievements and continued dedication to the U.S. Merchant Marine as an educator.

On Friday May 9, 2008, at a ceremony at the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School, (CMES) Instructor Thomas F. Cannon was honored with the Maritime Administration's Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement. In light of Tom's forty years of active service, his unique career achievements and his continued dedication to the United States Merchant Marine as an educator, Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton presented Tom this rare award. Tom holds an unlimited Chief Engineer license of Steam, Motor, Gas Turbine, and Nuclear vessels. He was the Chief Engineer of such ships as the GTS ADM. WILLIAM M. CALLAGHAN with its revolutionary gas turbine technology and the N/S SAVANNAH, the world's first and only commercially operated nuclear ship. Vice Admiral Albert Herberger USN (Ret), himself a former Maritime Administrator, pinned the medal on Mr. Cannon. Admiral Herberger graduated with Tom from Kings Point (Class of 55) and the two were actually roommates there. M.E.B.A. President Don Keefe also lauded Tom's career achievements during the ceremony that attracted a number of other distinguished dignitaries as well as students attending CMES classes.

Since his retirement, Tom has selflessly dedicated most of his time to passing on lessons learned by his considerable experience to future generations of marine engineers, both as an instructor at CMES and at GMATS. Tom is an invaluable asset to the CMES faculty, teaching the Steam Engineering, Ships Management, Gas Turbine Engineering, Upgrading Engineer Management Level, Operating Principles of Marine Power Plants and Diesel Engineering courses.

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