STAR Center Presentation to the Florida State Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary

On Tuesday February 18th 2025, STAR Center’s Director of Operations Graeme Holman briefed the Florida State Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary. The invitation to speak was due to recognition of MARAD’s designation of STAR Center as Center of Excellence for Maritime Workforce Development Training and Education as they investigate ways to build on maritime opportunities in Florida.
The briefing focused on the three key elements of STAR Center’s workforce development training:
- The TECH program and the opportunities the 2-year apprentice engineer program affords.
- The 17-week OICEW program and benefits of that program.
- Our workforce development programs to support AMO deck and engine officers progress in their career and raise their credential level to Unlimited Master / Unlimited Horsepower Chief Engineer.
The committee was impressed and especially noted the TECH program. Presenting with STAR Center was the only other Florida Center of Excellence, the College of the Florida Keys.