Lauren S. McCready
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral Lauren S. McCready (July 26, 1915 – November 27, 2007) was one of the builders and founders of the United States Merchant Marine Academy
, "Kings Point."
He graduated from New York University
in 1937 with a degree in mechanical engineering
, soon after he received his marine engineers license. He continued to work as a ship's third engineer until 1940 when he entered the Maritime Officers Training School at Fort Trumbull
. Shortly after graduation he joined the Washington, D.C. staff of the United States Maritime Commission
as a Cadet Training Instructor.
In February 1942 he was assigned to partake in the acquisition and conversion of the Walter P. Chrysler estate on Long Island into the newly commissioned Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy. He was the first head of the Engineering Department, and created the Engineering Department virtually from scratch while overseeing the design and construction of Fulton Hall. Over a 29 year period he brought the Engineering Department its first accreditation, founded a nuclear engineering
curriculum, led the officer training for the first nuclear-powered cargo ship, the NS Savannah
, and earned his own Senior Nuclear Reactor Operator's License. He retired from full-time teaching in 1970, but continued to teach as an adjunct until 1975.
In 1971, McCready was appointed the first director of the National Maritime Research Center at Kings Point, a department he helped establish. He served there for three years before retiring from federal service in 1975.
McCready is the recipient of the Department of Commerce
Gold Medal and the Engineers of Distinction Award. In 1981 he was designated an honorary alumnus of the Academy, and in 1983 he was named professor emeritus
. A major laboratory area in Fulton Hall bears McCready's name.
Admiral McCready was an honorary alumnus of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and recipient of an honorary doctorate. Admiral McCready was exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of Kings Point graduates, and attended Homecoming every year, where his presentation “Kings Point: The Early Years” was a popular sell-out. One of his most remarkable records was that he watched over 21,000 Kings Pointers receive their diplomas, participating in every commencement ceremony from the first class to cross a King Point campus stage in 1942 through 2005.
In 1973, after several travels to France, he wrote a thesis for the degree of Master of Science (History of Sciences) entitled "the Invention and Development of the Gnome Rotary aero engine - the work of Louis and Laurent Seguin". He was given by the Seguin family the first model of the Gnome engine, and gave it to the Smithonian Institute (Washington) where it is exhibited.
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
, "Kings Point."
He graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1937 with a degree in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, soon after he received his marine engineers license. He continued to work as a ship's third engineer until 1940 when he entered the Maritime Officers Training School at Fort Trumbull
Fort Trumbull
Fort Trumbull refers to a fort in New London, Connecticut and to a nearby neighborhood.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood of Fort Trumbull was demolished as part of plan for the economic development of New London. The plan was appealed in a case that reached the US Supreme Court, Kelo v...
. Shortly after graduation he joined the Washington, D.C. staff of the United States Maritime Commission
United States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
as a Cadet Training Instructor.
In February 1942 he was assigned to partake in the acquisition and conversion of the Walter P. Chrysler estate on Long Island into the newly commissioned Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy. He was the first head of the Engineering Department, and created the Engineering Department virtually from scratch while overseeing the design and construction of Fulton Hall. Over a 29 year period he brought the Engineering Department its first accreditation, founded a nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
curriculum, led the officer training for the first nuclear-powered cargo ship, the NS Savannah
NS Savannah
NS Savannah, named for SS Savannah, was the first nuclear-powered cargo-passenger ship, built in the late 1950s at a cost of $46.9 million, including a $28.3 million nuclear reactor and fuel core, funded by United States government agencies as a demonstration project for the potential...
, and earned his own Senior Nuclear Reactor Operator's License. He retired from full-time teaching in 1970, but continued to teach as an adjunct until 1975.
In 1971, McCready was appointed the first director of the National Maritime Research Center at Kings Point, a department he helped establish. He served there for three years before retiring from federal service in 1975.
McCready is the recipient of the Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
Gold Medal and the Engineers of Distinction Award. In 1981 he was designated an honorary alumnus of the Academy, and in 1983 he was named professor emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
. A major laboratory area in Fulton Hall bears McCready's name.
Admiral McCready was an honorary alumnus of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and recipient of an honorary doctorate. Admiral McCready was exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of Kings Point graduates, and attended Homecoming every year, where his presentation “Kings Point: The Early Years” was a popular sell-out. One of his most remarkable records was that he watched over 21,000 Kings Pointers receive their diplomas, participating in every commencement ceremony from the first class to cross a King Point campus stage in 1942 through 2005.
In 1973, after several travels to France, he wrote a thesis for the degree of Master of Science (History of Sciences) entitled "the Invention and Development of the Gnome Rotary aero engine - the work of Louis and Laurent Seguin". He was given by the Seguin family the first model of the Gnome engine, and gave it to the Smithonian Institute (Washington) where it is exhibited.
Career accomplishments
- Admiral McCready taught engineering at the Academy from 1941 to 1975.
- B.S.M.E., M.M.E., New York University
- M.S., Polytechnic University
- Licenses:
- Chief Engineer of Steam Vessels, Unlimited Horsepower
- First Assistant Engineer, Diesel Vessels, Unlimited Horsepower