Vice Admiral Stewart was appointed Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) on August 1, 1998. The ninth person to hold this post since the institution’s dedication in 1943, Vice Admiral Stewart heads a federal academy with a student body of some 920 midshipmen and a waterfront campus covering more than eighty acres.

The Academy, operated by the U. S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, is located at Kings Point, New York. It is one of the nation’s prime sources of licensed merchant marine officers and is renowned internationally for its maritime education and training programs.

Prior to his USMMA post, Vice Admiral Stewart served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics at the U. S. Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC. He held the rank of major general, and retired from the Marine Corps soon after assuming the duties as the Academy Superintendent.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Vice Admiral Stewart graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1964 and entered the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. During his thirty-four-year Marine Corps career, he served in a variety of command and staff positions. He has commanded a tank company, a supply battalion, and a defense distribution depot. As a major general, he served as Commander, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia. He has also served as an instructor and athletic coach at the Naval Academy.

Vice Admiral Stewart earned a Master's degree in Operational Research from the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master’s degree in Management from Salve Regina College and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

Vice Admiral Stewart’s personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Combat Action Ribbon. He is also a recipient of the Secretary of Transportation’s Gold Medal.

Vice Admiral Stewart is married to the former Kathleen Fitzpatrick of Seattle, Washington. They have two sons, David and Kevin.