UD renames Center for the Study of Marine Policy
to honor Gerard J. Mangone

Gerard J. Mangone, University Research Professor of International and Maritime Law, was recognized recently with a symposium and a special ceremony renaming the UD's Center for the Study of Marine Policy in his honor.

Focusing on national and international policy issues affecting marine transportation, the October symposium honoring Mangone addressed trends in marine transportation, including implications of technological changes in vessels and ports. Such policy issues as safety in shipping, maritime security in ports and harbors and environmental issues such as ballast water discharges, invasive species and air pollution from ships also were addressed.

The symposium concluded with a consideration of major issues in international and national maritime law and policy.

At the ceremony, which followed in Bayard Sharp Hall, Carolyn A. Thoroughgood, dean of the College of Marine Studies, praised Mangone for his outstanding academic credentials, his international reputation and his leadership skills in both organizational and administrative capacities, calling him "one of our most distinguished faculty members."

President David P. Roselle commended Mangone for his thoughtful commitment and generous donation of $300,000 to the center, now known as the Gerard J. Mangone Center for the Study of Marine Policy. He also recognized Mangone's continuing contributions despite reaching retirement age more than a decade ago, affectionately dubbing the octogenarian as "UD's version of the Energizer bunny."

Numerous guests--from former students to University colleagues--took the podium to acknowledge Mangone.

Former student Kevin Krick, MS 2000/M, now a special assistant in the U.S. Office of Maritime Administration, noted, "Dr Mangone is the reason I am where I am today. Through his instruction, I was able to take the interests I developed while sailing as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine and turn them into marine policy skills and results."

Mangone's career as an international legal scholar began in the early 1940s. Originally an English major with an interest in theatre, he became interested in the intricacies of international law while serving as a morale officer in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war ended, he earned his master's degree and his doctorate in international law from Harvard University in 1947 and 1949.

Throughout the next two decades, he taught at Harvard, Yale and Princeton universities and held faculty and administrative positions at Wesleyan and Swarthmore colleges and Syracuse and Temple universities. In 1970, he became the first senior fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Mangone joined UD in 1972 as professor of marine studies and political science and organized the Marine Policy Program in the College of Marine Studies. In 1973, he created the Center for the Study of Marine Policy--the first research center at an American university to study the legal, political and economic issues facing the ocean, seabed and coastal zone--and was its director for the next 16 years.

He has taught nine different courses, supervised some 40 master's and doctoral degree students and established several different educational programs relating to marine policy and the law. In 1983, Mangone was presented with UD's most prestigious faculty award, the Francis Alison Award.

He recently published The Legal Regime of the Turkish Straits, which is the 13th book in his edited series, International Straits of the World.