new Deputy Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

[tankercaptain]

Academy Superintendent Rear Admiral James A. Helis, USMS announced that Captain, USN (ret.) Susan L. Dunlap has been selected as the new Deputy Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

His message stated:

Captain Dunlap recently retired after an honorable and distinguished 28-year career with the United States Navy. She is a Surface Warfare Officer with vast experience at sea. In her final assignment she served in Naples, Italy with U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Sixth Fleet as Director, Africa Regional Engagement Group, where she provided direct oversight of all maritime theater security cooperation with Africa, including the internationally-recognized Africa Partnership Station (APS) program. Her extensive leadership experience in key command and staff billets and lifetime commitment to service to the nation make her an ideal selection for Deputy Superintendent. I am pleased to welcome her to the senior leadership team at Kings Point.

 

[tankercaptain]

CAPTAIN (Ret) SUSAN “SUE” L. DUNLAP
UNITED STATES NAVY
Captain Dunlap is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended
Northwestern University on an NROTC scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in English Literature in 1984.
She was a distinguished graduate of the Surface Warfare Officers School Basic Course, and her initial assignment was to USS CANOPUS (AS 34), where she served as Navigator and Auxiliaries Officer. She subsequently attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, from January 1988 to December 1989 and was awarded a Master’s degree in Computer Science.
A Distinguished Graduate of the Surface Warfare Officers Department Head Course, she was assigned as Chief Engineer of USS JASON (AR-8), and deployed in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM in 1990 and 1991. From JASON, Captain Dunlap transferred to Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet Propulsion Examining Board, where she served as a steam propulsion examiner.
In March 1994, Captain Dunlap was reassigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D. C. For six months she served as the Surface Warfare Initial Accessions Detailer before becoming a placement officer, where her constituents included ships and commands of the Combat Logistics Force, Military Sealift Command, Mine Warfare Command, Afloat Training Group and Surface Warfare Officers School.
Following repeal of the Combat Exclusion Law, Captain Dunlap requested and received orders to the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS BOXER (LHD-4), where she served as Navigator. She participated in BOXER’s maiden deployment to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea from March to September 1997. She was subsequently detailed as Executive Officer of USS RUSHMORE (LSD-47), the Pacific Fleet’s "Smart Ship" platform.
In June 1999, Captain Dunlap became Chief Staff Officer of Amphibious Squadron THREE, embarked onboard USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6). During the maiden deployment of the BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), the squadron staff and Marines of the FIFTEENTH Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in Operation STABILIZE, providing humanitarian assistance to the people of East Timor.
Captain Dunlap served as Commanding Officer of Assault Craft Unit ONE from
August 2001 to February 2003. Her follow-on assignment was to Commander, Naval Air
Force, Pacific Fleet, in the Carrier Training Department.
Captain Dunlap took command of Military Sealift Command's Sealift Logistics Command, Far East (SEALOGFE) on 30 June 2006. After more than 50 years in Yokohama, Japan, the command relocated to Singapore and became officially established on 31 July 2006. As SEALOGFE’s first Commander, Captain Dunlap supervised over 52 million square miles of ocean with responsibility for approximately 49 ships and 2400 military and civilian mariners on any given day. Her follow on major command was at Training Support Center, San Diego.
In July 2010 Captain Dunlap reported to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. Naval Forces Africa/SIXTH Fleet as Director, Africa Engagement. She retired from the Navy in July 2012 after 28 years of service.
Captain Dunlap’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (three gold stars), the Meritorious Service Medal (three gold stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three gold stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various other campaign and service ribbons. She is a graduate of the Naval War College, where she earned her Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies with a single area focus on Africa.

 

[jasperdog]

Look's like an excellent selection for the billet...

There's A LOT to like in Capt. Dunlap's resume given the types of things USMMA needs:

1) A female member of the Senior Staff has been needed for some time, IMO for lots of real reasons. Having a woman in such a senior leadership position who has served aboard ships at sea in senior officer capacities has been something that has been lacking for the entire time USMMA has been admitting women, from that perspective this selection is overdue.

2) Background in a sea-going service with all it's traditions, history, etc. is absolutely a plus given the majority of graduates are commissioned and Ensign, USNR upon graduation.

3) Capt. Dunlap's tours with MSC - an absolute plus, no ifs and or buts about it.

4) Her post-graduate degree - MS Computer Science means that the USMMA senior staff now likely has someone who will appreciate how lacking the school currently is in the IT area both from the curricula and day to day midshipman life perspectives. That might mean things will start to get some improvement moving quicker there as well.