SUNY Maritime is now home to an ‘Ardy Award’ winner.
Major General Robert Wolf, the college’s director of graduate admissions and New York State naval militia commander and Trojan Horse port safety program director, received the New York City Police Department's Retired Detectives Association "Ardy Award" for outstanding support of the law enforcement community in November. Wolf, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, accepted the award on behalf of all of the men and women in New York State’s Navy militia, the men and women who facilitate all aspects of maritime security.
“I am the company security officer for The Empire State, [SUNY Maritime’s] training vessel,” Wolf said. “I make sure ship security is in accordance with all regulations.”
Wolf works with volunteers in the Trojan Horse program, designed to mobilize civilian and non-civilian marine power in case of emergencies: terrorist attacks to weather-related disasters.
“The essence of [the Trojan Horse program] is that volunteers providefuel, assets and manpower,” Wolf explained. “People rally around to make all of this happen because it’s the right thing to do.”
Trojan Horse participants work with military and police personnel to build a network on the seas in and around New York City. They keep the metropolitan area safe from vessel-borne attacks.
“We have to worry about our frontiers and borders,” Wolf said. “We need to prevent and mitigate any disaster and keep it to a minimum because the waters are major lines…for transportation.”
Major General Wolf became commander of the Naval Militia in February, 2008. He has been a militiaman since 1994, when he retired from active duty after a 21-year career with the United States Marine Corps.
On September 11, 2001, Wolf led the naval militia's operations at the New York City Office of Emergency Management headquarters, for which he received the Conspicuous Service Medal, commending his actions during the emergency and recovery effort. Prior to that, he directed rescue and recovery operations following the crash of TWA flight 800
In addition to his other roles at the college, Wolf coaches Maritime’s rugby team.
Reach reporter Patrick Rocchio at 718 742-3393 or procchio@cnglocal.com
