U.S.-Flag Maritime Industry Salutes Captain Tim Brown
Photo: Admiral Mark Buzby, Commander of U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command congratulates former International Organization of Master, Mates & Pilots (IOMMP) President Tim Brown for his service to maritime industry and his recent retirement. (background - Gary Hicks)
Representatives of the labor movement, government and industry joined members and officials of the Masters, Mates & Pilots March 19 in a salute to former MM&P International President Tim Brown. The event, which was sponsored by MM&P and the Kings Point Alumni Association’s Chesapeake Chapter, was held at MITAGS.
During the course of the evening, Brown was named a Commodore of the U.S. Maritime Service by order of President Barack Obama. A plaque to that effect was presented to him by U.S. Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda and Deputy Maritime Administrator Paul N. Jaenichen Sr.
“It goes to show how much respect people in every sector of the maritime industry have for Tim,” said Maryland Pilot Brian Hope, who spoke at the event on behalf of the Pilot Membership Group. Hope presented tributes to Brown from every pilot group on the West Coast, including a silver plate with an inscription from the San Francisco Bar Pilots. American Pilots’ Association (APA) President Mike Watson also sent an official tribute to Brown, along with well wishes on behalf of all APA members.
Maritime industry recognizes Captain Brown for years of service - (right) MARAD Administrator David Matsuda and (left making presentation) Deputy Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen.
A heart-felt commendation came from MM&P International President Don Marcus, who credited Brown with working tirelessly to ensure the union’s survival in the face of industry change, internal conflicts and attacks from the outside.
“Tim preserved the livelihoods, working conditions and benefits for our members, pensioners and their families,” Marcus said. “He worked with particular dedication to enhance health care benefits for our active and retired members. He has always cared first and foremost about the guys on the ships. We are proud of what Tim has given to our brothers and our sisters, proud for what he has achieved in our industry.”
Other speakers at the event thanked Brown for consistently advocating on behalf of the U.S. Merchant Marine, Kings Point, the labor movement and working families.
Left to right: Former MM&P Gulf Ports Vice President Bob Groh; Tim Brown; MM&P International President Don Marcus; Former MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President Paul Nielsen and current MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President Dave Boatner.
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TIMOTHY A. BROWN BIOGRAPHY
Captain Timothy A. Brown served six terms as International President of the Masters, Mates & Pilots.
He was originally elected President in February 1991 in a Labor Department supervised election. He was reelected in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and again in 2008. In 2012, he decided not to be a candidate for a seventh term in office.
Maritime Career
He began his sailing career as a ship’s officer in the summer of 1965 after graduating from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
His first vessel, as a Deck Cadet, was the SS Del Oro with Delta Steamship Lines Inc. on Sept. 14, 1962 out of New Orleans. He joined the Masters, Mates & Pilots on Aug. 11, 1965 in Jacksonville and first sailed as Third Mate on Aug. 21, 1965 out of Port Everglades aboard the SS Fruitvale Hills with Delta SS Lines.
His first vessel as a Second Mate was the SS Southwestern Victory with Delta SS Lines out of San Francisco. His first vessel as Chief Mate was the SS Long Beach with Sealand Service Inc., on Oct. 24 1968, out of San Francisco.
He received his United States Coast Guard Master’s License in the summer of 1970, five years to the day from the date on which he had received his third mate’s license.
He started sailing as Master on Aug. 21, 1983, aboard the Sealand Consumer with Sealand Service Inc. out of New Orleans. He last sailed as Master on Jan. 2, 1991, aboard the Sealand Consumer, after which he came ashore and assumed the position of MM&P International President on April 5, 1991.
Education
He obtained a Master of Science Degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration Degree, with a specialization in labor relations, from the Wharton Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania in the winter of 1974.
Vietnam and Military
He served our country in the American Merchant Marine during the Vietnam conflict and participated in two military driven exercises during the 1980s.
Pension Plan Trusteeship
Starting on Jan. 7, 1993, Captain Brown served as the Chairman for all the Masters, Mates & Pilots Trust Plans, which include the Pension Plan, the Training Plan, the Vacation Plan, and the Health and Benefit Plan.
International Longshoremen’s Association
He was also elected to consecutive terms as a Vice President of the International Longshoremen's Association starting in 1991.
USSM
He participated in the activities of the United Seamen’s Service for 21 years.
Awards and Honors
In November 2002, along with Tom Crowley, President of Crowley Marine, Captain Brown was awarded the Christopher Columbus Statuette as an AOTOS (Admiral of the Ocean Seas). The AOTOS Award is given annually by the United Seamen’s Service to individuals whose work in promoting the American Merchant Marine is outstanding.
Among his many awards for service to the industry are the Seafarers’ and International House “Outstanding Friend of Seafarers” Award in 2004 and the Father Lalonde “Spirit of the Seas” Award by the Council of American Master Mariners in 2012. In 2009, he was admitted to the Port of New York and New Jersey’s International Maritime Hall of Fame.