Faculty and Staff

John Miller - Administrator

John Miller joined the staff of The Boat School - Husson in Eastport as Administrator in August, 2007 He has been associated with The Boat School for the past 8 years. As Director of Public Affairs and Coordinator of International Studies for Washington County Community College, again as Public Affairs Director for Friends of The Boat School, and now as Administrator for The Boat School - Husson. During his tenure he has overseen numerous projects to expand awareness of the Boat School and enhance the facility. He wrote the $200,000 Small Harbor Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant and raised over $80,000 in local matching funds for the rebuilding of the school's pier. John brings a wealth of experience to his position. John's family was in the ship building business for over a century on the Coast of Maine. He served as director of public affairs and corporate development for Bay Ferries Ltd., operator of the high-speed ferry, The Cat. He was press secretary to Governor Angus S. King, Jr., and served on Capitol Hill for Senator William Hathaway and Senator Tom Daschle. He has anchored the news for ABC and NBC television and reported for CNN. His international assignments and postings have included China, the former USSR, Europe, the South Pacific Rim and the Caribbean. John was tapped by The White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives to serve as director of National Television of Grenada following the US Intervention and served as special advisor to Prime Minister H.A. Blaize. John lives on Moose Island.

Bret Blanchard - Lead Instructor

Brett is the Lead Instructor for first-year students, providing instruction in drafting, lofting, and first-year boatbuilding. "The Boat School is a life changing experience," says lead instructor Bret Blanchard. "Having graduated from the program in 1979 and returning to teach in 1984, I have witnessed the evolution of the school through the years. We are now entering the most exciting and dynamic period in our history. Our new affiliation with Husson College, the fastest growing private college in New England, has opened doors that were shut in the past and now our unique and comprehensive boatbuilding program will provide even greater opportunities in one of Maine's fastest growing industries. We will provide you with the skills to enter the field which is so diverse and unique one could never become bored and it will provide you with a lifetime of opportunities. As we grow and expand opportunities for our current and future students, I hope to see some of our alumni return to further their educational opportunities. If you stop learning, you stop growing and only limit possibilities you may not yet imagine."

Patrick Owen - Composites Instructor

Patrick Owen joined the faculty of The Boat School this year and brings with him a diverse background of experience, including custom powerboat design and construction, production sailboat manufacturing, CAD/CAM, and traditional woodworking skills. "Students need to be grounded in the fundamentals and traditions of boatbuilding which include innovation. The great builders of the past were always looking for ways to improve their product by improving efficiency, productivity, and quality. Today’s boat builders have to be forward thinking while building on traditional skills, which will always be a part of the business. The challenge for The Boat School is to provide an education that will prepare our graduates to step into the rapidly changing world of boat building.” Patrick’s sharing of his experience in design with computers, composite construction, joinery, CNC, process integration, and product development will help to meet that test. "I'm most excited to be a part of the new era for The Boat School. The commitment of everyone involved is contagious and it’s great to see the school growing. Students, staff, Friends, industry partners, the city and state, faculty and Husson are coming together to forge a new Boat School and the possibilities are really exciting." Patrick enjoys boating and boat building, hiking, photography, and music, sharing many of those interests with his wife Anita. They are looking forward to being a part of the community.

Dean Pike - Instructor

Dean Pike is a 1980 graduate of the Boat School. Immediately after graduation, he started Moose Island Marine in Eastport with just the tools required to graduate from the program. At the beginning, he used the 20-foot tides of Passamaquoddy Bay to facilitate all bottom repairs in the intertidal zone and all on wooden boats.

He began teaching for Boat School Founding Director Junior Miller in the summer of 1981 as a substitute teacher in the Boatbuilding program and has been here ever since. Dean is the Senior Instructor for second-year students, and is the ACMA-certified composites instructor and has delivered courses in composites and travelift operation for the Maine Marine Trades Association from Portland to MDI. Dean loves teaching all ages and can be found at times making up the next verse and ever-continuing lament of the famous "Boatbuilders Blues."

"It is always great to run into alumni at different boatyards, boat shows or especially when they come back to visit and share what they have done," says Boat School instructor Dean Pike. "Many of the students that I have taught are now the leaders of the marine trades industry here in Maine, holding top positions in the best known boat building yards. There is hardly a yard in Maine which has not had a Boat School grad work with them. It was so exciting two years ago when one of our grads returned to talk with students about his career working with one of the Tech Teams that travels around the world with one of the America's Cup Syndicates... he was doing something he loves with his Boat School education, getting paid great money, and traveling first class to the best azure racing waters on the planet."

Brian Moore – Senior Teaching Assistant

Brian is a graduate of The Boat School and has over twenty years of boat building experience. He is recognized in the region as one of Downeast Maine’s best boat builders with expertise in fiberglass, composites and marine painting. Brian grew up cruising on the waters of Washington County and spending lots of time in and on boats. He makes his home “Up Country" off the island (Pembroke, Maine) where he has specialized in the construction and repair of all types and sizes of boats. Since graduating at the top of his class in boat-building technology from The Boat School, Brian has had a multifaceted career.

Ed Scott - Systems

Ed is a small craft naval architect and marine surveyor as well as a marine electronics/electrical technician. He has worked in the small craft industry for over ten years. He attended the Westlawn School of Marine Technology, the MacNaughton School of Yacht Design, and has an two-year degree in Electronics Technology from Lincoln Technical Institute. He has his FCC General Class Radiotelephone license, which is a legal requirement for working on marine electronics. As a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary he performs vessel inspections and teaches public boating safety classes.

Ed has taught marine electrical systems at The Boat School for the last two years and looks forward to working with Husson College. "The boat school has always had a great program and excellent instructors and I'm looking forward to Husson raising this program to the next level. The use of marine electrical and electronics systems is increasing in small boats as well as large boats and it is important that the design and installation of these systems be carried out in accordance with the latest industry practices. It is my goal to prepare the student with the knowledge to be able to plan a solid and reliable electrical installation."

Molly McDonald - College English

Molly McDonald teaches College Composition at the Boat School, a technical writing course focused on writing and communicating within the marine industry. She holds a BA in English from Oberlin College and an MFA in Poetry from the University of Montana, where she taught composition and poetry courses. A native Midwesterner, Molly first came to Downeast Maine in the summer of 2002 to work for Tide Mill Organics, a ninth generation family farm located in Edmunds (a community about twenty miles down the road from the Boat School). Despite consequent moves to Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Missoula, the beauty of the landscape and the warmth of the community she found here eventually compelled her to return permanently. Molly now splits her time between teaching writing and working on the farm--often finding unexpected resonances between the two vocations.

Dennis Turner - Boat Handling Instructor

Dennis Turner, Boat Handling Instructor is a Merchant Marine Officer, Captain, near coastal, 50 ton motor vessel with tow endorsement. Captain Turner grew up on Moose Island and graduated from Husson College in 1971 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He was part of the management team and a corporate officer of the Mearl Corporation for over 35 years. His research and training background has taken him all over the world. He was the team leader during the development and application for three patents. He was responsible for the oversight and construction of the 68' fishing vessel FV Christina M. and served as the alternate master. He trained and served as pilot and fish spotter while managing two fishing crews. Dennis has been an integral part of the Washington County community for almost four decades. His knowledge and life experience on and around the water... and in the design, building and operation of boats provides our students with invaluable skill sets for their careers ahead.

George McBride - Math

George has taught math to high school and college students since 2004. With a background in manufacturing, George is able to help Boat School - Husson students attain math skills that will apply in their chosen field. George earned the degree of Bachelor of Science, Physics, at Oregon State University in 1978, and he worked for twenty five years as an engineer and technician making electronic, automotive, and medical devices, before changing his career and moving to Maine. In addition to teaching the math program at the Boat School - Husson, George is also a boatbuilding student, enrolled in the two year diploma program and scheduled to graduate in 2009. George is a certified teacher in the state of Maine.

Daniel B. MacNaughton - Marine Finishes Instructor

Daniel B. MacNaughton, Marine Finishes Instructor of Belfast, Maine, is Yard Manager at Rockport Marine, a yard on Penobscot Bay that builds and maintains wooden boats. Dan has worked at yards for over 20 years and calls Eastport his home. At one time he was Associate Editor of WoodenBoat magazine, and his articles have appeared there and in Maine Boats & Harbors and The Quoddy Tides. He sails the 1925 Atkin ketch Eric, and is chief writer and co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Yacht Designers.

Captain Kenneth Stuart - Mariner Training Instructor

Captain Stuart delivers the United States Coast Guard Approved mariner courses that include the 100 GT Captains Course, Able Seaman, STCW, Proficiency in Survival Craft, Celestial Navigation and Limited Masters Launch programs to name a few. These classes are offered in collaboration with Downeast Maritime Training on a rotating basis throughout the year. Classes are offered in the evening and on weekends so that full-time boat building students have the opportunity to participate. Ken Stuart is a retired 22 year veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He holds a 200GT Master of Towing Near Coastal, and 100GT Master of Auxiliary Sail, with Unlimited RADAR Endorsement. His service time included numerous Commands of Coast Guard Small Boat Stations and Cutters. His training with the Coast Guard includes, but was not limited to: Search and Rescue; Motor Lifeboat Surfman Registered #184; Law Enforcement Boarding Officer and Defensive Tactics Instructor. Captain Stuart is currently serving as a Civilian Search & Rescue Specialist for Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, which has an area of responsibility ranging from the Massachusetts/New Hampshire State Line North to the Canadian Border.

Benjamin Knowles - IT Director / Computer Instructor

Ben grew up here in Washington County and recieved double degrees from Washington County Community College in 2003. An A.S. in Computer Information Systems - Specializing in Computer Networking and an A.S. in Computer Information Systems - Specializing in Computer Programming. Ben also serves as Technology Coordinator for School Union 104. Without a doubt, Ben is the most musical member of our staff. His main insturment is the Piano. He started playing at age 6 and took lessons for 9 years. He also plays Bass Guitar, Guitar, Trumpet, Baritone, Drums & Percussion. He loves riding motorcycles, hiking, camping, sailing, kayaking and exploring the inland and coastal waters of Maine and the Maritimes. In the summer he loves putting his kayak in the ocean an hour before sunrise for a morning paddle out to watch the sunrise behind Campobello and visit with the whales, eagles and porpoise that also call this area home. He considers his greatest wealth to be his family and friends. He makes his home here on Moose Island.