4 min read March 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Michael Fossum, COO of Texas A&M University at Galveston, delved into the university’s historical origins, its pivotal role in maritime education, and the expansion of its academic programs. Fossum, an astronaut, also reflected on his journey from NASA to academia.
What led to the creation of Texas A&M’s maritime academy and how does it prepare its students?
Texas A&M University at Galveston, the marine and maritime campus of Texas A&M University, took root in 1931 when the Texas Legislature, governor, and then-president of Texas A&M pushed for the creation of a “nautical school” to instruct students on maritime, naval and engineering sciences. Their work came to fruition in 1961 when the state-funded Texas A&M Maritime Academy was created, filling the regional maritime education gap. To this day, the academy still serves as the only state maritime academy in the Gulf of Mexico and southern United States.
Now working in partnership with the federal government, the academy facilitates hands-on learning and real-life experiences using a federally provided training ship. These students, typically referred to as cadets, undertake a rigorous curriculum: spending three summers at sea, preparing for their third mate or third assistant engineer Coast Guard licensing exams, and attending classes to earn one of several designated “license option” degrees including marine engineering technology, marine transportation, marine science, marine biology, or a graduate degree. Once completed, graduates are licensed to serve as officers aboard ocean-going and inland waterway vessels or enter military service. Though there are other ways for someone to earn one of these licenses, it can take significantly longer than the streamlined, federally-owned and Coast Guard-approved four-year program the Galveston Campus offers through the Texas A&M Maritime Academy.
How has Texas A&M at Galveston grown beyond the maritime academy?
Although the creation of the campus started from the need for a regional maritime academy, a second, but equally important, institution was critical in its creation. The Texas A&M Marine Laboratory, under the direction of A&M’s oceanography department, was established in 1952 to serve as a field station for oyster biology and disease research. From there, Galveston’s work in the marine sciences grew exponentially. Eventually, the laboratory and maritime academy were brought together under one entity, Texas A&M University at Galveston, laying the foundation for the university’s special-purpose marine- and maritime-focused mission.
Since then, the campus has significantly broadened its academic scope. For decades, the campus has expanded its undergraduate and graduate degrees, ranging from marine sciences, business administration and logistics, the blue humanities, marine transportation and engineering. We are always looking for new ways to grow our programs. A recent example is the marine electro-technology minor, which lays the groundwork for students to pursue an Electro-Technical Officer endorsement. These diverse and ever-growing programs drive students toward critical marine and maritime careers.
Furthermore, the university has partnered with other Texas A&M entities to offer additional opportunities to Galveston Aggies. The College of Engineering allows students to pursue additional engineering tracks, including computer science, ocean engineering and engineering for marine environments. The Texas A&M School of Education & Human Development allows students to take the aggieTeach SEED minor, allowing them to earn a secondary education teaching certificate. The School of Law allows graduate students to earn a Master of Maritime Business Administration and Logistics and a Juris Doctor in four years, creating professionals with an understanding of the highly regulated maritime industry and legal system.
Finally, students who pursue a Bachelor of Science in University Studies, with a concentration in Oceans & One Health, may choose to complete a Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). This partnership allows students to graduate in five years with both a Texas A&M undergraduate and UTMB graduate degree, opening a pathway into the medical field.
How is Texas A&M University at Galveston enhancing its campus and maritime capabilities in response to growing student and community needs?
In the wake of Hurricane Ike, Texas A&M University at Galveston committed to significant investments, totaling over $400 million in the past 15 years, to enhance the campus and its programs. These include additional faculty and staff to support new and growing programs, utility and infrastructure upgrades, and the construction of several new buildings, including the maritime academy residence hall, an ocean and coastal studies research and classroom building, an academic complex, and indoor and waterfront event spaces.
Construction will begin this year on the Engineering Classroom & Research Building, which will support engineering programs and provide additional academic and research facilities. Another major project we are pursuing is the Texas Upper Coast Sea Turtle Hospital & Educational Outreach Center. The Gulf of Mexico serves as home to five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles, facilitating the need for a rehabilitation center. This facility will provide shelter and medical support to injured sea turtles while also providing a center for public education and outreach.
Another notable achievement is the construction of the training ship Lone Star State for the maritime academy. Through significant efforts and extensive lobbying, most notably from the Texas A&M University System chancellor, the university was able to secure the $330 in federal funding needed for construction. This state-of-the-art, multifunctional ship is designed to support the maritime training needs of 600 cadets while also serving as a disaster response vessel, equipped with extensive medical facilities, helipad, roll-on/roll-off ramp, and the ability to berth up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need. The ship will strengthen our state and nation’s disaster response capabilities along the Gulf Coast region.
How does Texas A&M University at Galveston integrate industry experience into its academic programs?
I partner with our university’s Board of Visitors, which serves as an advisory group that provides industry insights and advocates for our programs. The board is comprised of a wide range of industry professionals, with current representation including the Port of Houston, American Bureau of Shipping, Teichman Marine and Texas International Terminals, to name a few.
In addition to the opportunities offered through the Board of Visitors, students’ educational experiences are enhanced by the employment of professors of the practice, industry professionals who bring relevant, real-world experience to the classroom. Twenty percent of the university’s faculty, and seventy-five percent of the marine engineering technology and maritime transportation departments, are comprised of professors of the practice. They, in conjunction with research faculty, help expose students to a combination of traditional, research-driven and professional track instruction, reflecting the latest in industry technology and practices.
We also have over 100 companies visit campus to hire our graduates. With the high demand for the knowledge, quality, and skill sets our degrees provide, employers continually request the campus to grow and graduate more students to meet their needs. In addition, the ever-growing outreach and interest from companies to form partnerships and internships have created several employment pipelines for students, with many having a job offer prior to graduation.
How do you view the role of research at your campus?
As part of Texas A&M, one of the nation’s elite research universities, the Galveston Campus not only excels in the creation and application of new knowledge and technological advances, it is part of our mandate. Our faculty’s research is vital to our campus and Galveston Bay community but also drives change in the state, nation and across the globe. With nearly $20 million in research expenditures this past year alone and over 35 specialized labs dedicated to conducting and promoting marine, maritime and interdisciplinary research, we’re making significant contributions to science and the world.
The campus is host to several critical research institutions, such as the Gulf Research Institute for Highly Migratory Species, which studies the migration and movement of large fishes to support healthy and sustainable fisheries in the Gulf. The Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas focuses on disaster risk reduction and helping state agencies make data-driven decisions, along with helping communities become more resilient. Rain events, such as 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, underscored the importance of the institute’s models, highlighting the impact of urban expansion on flooding and runoff patterns and how they exacerbate downstream flooding in urban areas. The institute also focuses on protecting coastal communities, especially against rising sea levels. The “Ike Dike,” a proposed barrier across Galveston Bay, aims at mitigating storm surge damage. This project, spearheaded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and awaiting full federal funding, is critical for safeguarding key industries in and around Galveston Bay and Houston.
Most importantly, our faculty strives to incorporate student research opportunities in both their undergraduate- and graduate-level curriculums, supporting students’ critical role in the university’s mission to innovate and discover. One example of this is the Sea Life Facility, which supports faculty research and education. Students work and learn alongside professors while receiving hands-on training in several areas, including animal husbandry, life support system maintenance and design, and water quality management.
Everything the campus does, whether through education, innovation, research or service, is committed to supporting the blue economy along the Gulf Coast and growing the economic and ecological understanding of our oceans, ecosystems, coastal communities and industries.
What inspired your transition from NASA to academia?
I retired from being an active astronaut seven years ago, although I was still in line to fly more missions. Joining NASA and living on the space station was living my dream. As a child, I rebuilt a treehouse into an imaginary space station. Though I never got to walk on Mars, my journey brought me here. When I visited this campus and saw its potential, I knew it was time for me to pursue a new personal mission and give back. I wanted to help others pursue their dreams with every ounce of their energy, just like I did mine.
I love the close-knit community of a smaller campus. It allows me to really get to know our students. Their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs become part of our shared experience. An example is a young man who took over six years to graduate; his journey was tough, but his success was even more rewarding and left me in tears as he walked across the stage. These personal interactions fuel my commitment to student success. My current joy and passion lie in helping our students follow their dreams despite any skepticism they may face. I’ve been there; people doubted me too. They questioned my background and my aspirations. But I proved them wrong. Now, I want to be the person who believes in our students, supporting them in their journey, regardless of what their dreams may be.
What are the institution’s plans for the next few years?
In the next two to three years, we will bring new facilities online. We will bring the TS Lone Star State to Texas and start training the next generation of mariners. We plan to expand our programs to meet market demands, including new opportunities in engineering and maritime studies. We will continue to develop a curriculum that not only educates but instills our Aggie Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. Our passion to pursue excellence and the love for our students is at the heart of all that we do.
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