Captain Donald J. Ferguson, a twenty-eight year resident of Great Neck, NY was appointed Director, Office of External Affairs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in November, 1998. As Director, Captain Ferguson is responsible for Congressional, Senatorial and industry liaison. Academy protocol, public relations, parents program, alumni relations and special events coordination all fall under his aegis. Before assuming this position, Captain Ferguson served as Commandant of Midshipmen for ten years and Associate Academic Dean and Registrar of the Academy for fourteen years.

Prior to his arrival at the Academy in 1975, Captain Ferguson held key faculty and administrative positions at a number of Colleges and Universities in this country, and abroad, including Associate Professor of Education and Director of Admissions, Records and Studies at Baruch College, CUNY; Associate Professor of Social Science and Associate Academic Vice President, Haile Sellassie I University in Ethiopia and Visiting Professor, World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden.

A native of Brooklyn , NY and a former resident of Connecticut, Ferguson graduated from the University of Bridgeport, CT in 1964, earning a Bachelor of Science, cum laude. He remained at the University of Bridgeport to earn a Master of Science degree and has completed post-Masters work at New York University , Baruch College and C. W. Post College . He is also a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas .

Captain Ferguson had over 40 years of Enlisted and Commissioned service in the Army National Guard, Active Army and Army Reserve. He culminated his military career with the rank of Colonel (Ret.) in 1989. However, in 1991, he was called from military retirement to serve on Active Duty with the U.S. Army during Desert Storm. During his career, Captain Ferguson served as an Artillery Officer, Aviation Officer, Engineering Officer, Logistics Officer and as an Intelligence Officer. He has held a number of Command and Staff positions including Commanding Officer, 411th Engineer Brigade (Combat Heavy) and the 102D Engineer Battalion (Combat) and served in Europe as the zone Engineer for Belgium and the Netherlands and in Germany with the Engineer Command.

Among his military awards are the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Forces Commendation Medal (MAAG-Ethiopia), and the Army Commendation Medal. He also has earned badges as an Air Operations Officer and Airborne qualification. In addition, he was awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal for the 1980 New York State Prison Guard Strike in which his Battalion held control of four maximum-security facilities.

Among his civic, professional and veteran's affiliations, Captain Ferguson is President of the Great Neck Memorial Day Parade Committee, Honorary member of the Cancer Volunteers of America. He is a Board member of the Retired Officers' Club of Long Island and the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' and Airmen's Club, NY. He also holds memberships in the International Maritime Lecturers Association, the Long Island Council of Student Personnel Administrators, the St. Andrews Society, Ends of the Earth Association, the American Legion, and the 71st Infantry Regiment and 42D Rainbow Division veteran associations.

He is married to the former Sandra H. Schub of Norwalk , Connecticut . They have two children, Anna and Greer. The Fergusons currently reside in quarters at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.