National Maritime Workforce Alliance

The National Maritime Workforce Alliance (NMWA) is a group of peer state, community and technical colleges and maritime training centers operated by and under the supervision of states, across the nation, with education and training programs preparing students to enter the maritime industry. Through shared interests, the NMWA is committed to the resiliency and strengthening of the maritime workforce of the United States. Convening collaboratively since October 2017, the NMWA is comprised of maritime training providers offering ashore and afloat programs across the United States.  

About the National Maritime Workforce Alliance (NMWA)

The National Maritime Workforce Alliance was formed in response to The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, Public Law 115-91 authorizing the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to designate eligible institutions as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (DMCOE). Aligned with criteria and eligible geography, the training providers within the Alliance are located in states bordering the following bodies of water:  

  • Gulf of Mexico

  • Atlantic Ocean

  • Long Island Sound

  • Pacific Ocean

  • Great Lakes

  • Mississippi River System

  • Arctic

  • Gulf of Alaska

Captain Willie Barrere, President, American Maritime Officers, speaking to a convening of the Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, April 8 & 9, 2025 at the STAR Center, Dania Beach, FL

Vision

We are a diverse network of state, community and technical colleges, and maritime training centers united in our commitment to the maritime industry, strategically positioned across the nation, and synergized through our ability to produce, expand, and strengthen the maritime workforce.

Mission

Our mission is to coordinate efforts with peer colleges across the nation, identify how to comprehensively serve the maritime industry through our individual programs, strengthen our collective impact by sharing resources, best practices, industry standards, trends, and innovative program delivery methods.

Strategy Statements

To achieve the strategic objective of serving the maritime industry through the development of a skilled maritime workforce, the Alliance has adopted the following strategies:   

  • Facilitate training and education of a domestic maritime workforce that is essential to meeting the nation’s current and projected economic and national security needs.

  • Work collaboratively with maritime industry partners to remain current with curricula, technology, and instructional methods.  

  • Lead with innovative models for local, regional, and international maritime training career pathways.

  • Share expertise, resources and best practices among Alliance members, ensuring the resiliency of the US Maritime Industry.

  • Build industry awareness to attract, develop and retain a workforce to meet the current and future needs of the industry, to include commitment to outreach to underserved and underrepresented communities, acknowledging the rapidly changing workforce demographic of the United States.

  • Promote a positive and competitive maritime industry image.

  • Support and align with MARAD’s workforce development strategies.