Joseph D. Stewart, also known as "Joey D," (July 9, 1942 – April 30, 2019) was a United States Marine Corps major general, who after his retirement from the Marine Corps, was appointed as superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) on August 1, 1998. He retired from the U.S. Maritime Service with the rank of vice admiral on September 30, 2008.
Education Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Stewart graduated from the Severn School in 1960 and the United States Naval Academy in 1964. Vice Admiral Stewart earned a master's degree in Operational Research from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and a master's degree in Management from Salve Regina College and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.
Stewart played lacrosse while at the Naval Academy, playing on three straight national championship teams.
Marine Corps career Upon his graduation from the Naval Academy, Stewart entered the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. During his thirty-four-year Marine Corps career, he served in a variety of command and staff positions. He commanded a tank company, a supply battalion, and a defense distribution depot. He has also served as an instructor and athletic coach at the Naval Academy. As a major general, he served as commander, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany in Georgia. Stewart served as deputy chief of staff for installations and logistics at the U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
He retired from the Marine Corps at the rank of major general in 1998 and soon after assumed the duties as the academy superintendent.
Superintendent of the US Merchant Marine Academy
The ninth person to hold this post since the institution's dedication in 1943, Vice Admiral Stewart headed a federal academy with a student body of some 920 midshipmen and a waterfront campus covering more than . The academy, operated by the United States Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, is located at Kings Point, New York. It is one of the nation's prime sources of licensed merchant marine officers and is renowned for its maritime education and training programs. Vice Admiral Stewart retired from the United States Merchant Marine Academy on September 30, 2008. He died from melanoma in 2019 at the age of 76.
Military awards Vice Admiral Stewart's personal decorations include:
Navy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalGuardian MedalLegion of MeritNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 1 award starCombat Action RibbonNavy Presidential Unit CitationNavy Unit CommendationNavy Meritorious Unit CommendationNational Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service starVietnam Service Medal w/ 3 service starsSouthwest Asia Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment RibbonVietnam Gallantry Cross unit citationVietnam Civil Actions unit citationVietnam Campaign Medal
Dates of rank
Marine Corps Second Lieutenant: June 1964 First Lieutenant: December 1965 Captain: March 1967 Major: January 1974 Lieutenant Colonel: October 1980 Colonel: January 1986 Brigadier General: June 1991 &‐ July 11, 1996 Major General: August 1993
Maritime Service Rear Admiral: August 1, 1998 Vice Admiral: 2003
References
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