(Vallejo, CA – March 20, 2012) – Cal Maritime's Deputy Commandant of Cadets, Roger Scranton, has been named chair elect of Leadership Vallejo, and will serve as chair for the organization for the 2012/2013 year. Leadership Vallejo, which is modeled after a long-established nationwide program of community leadership development and training, is designed to help identify, educate and train individuals interested in developing new skills and understanding in community organization and development.

Scranton, who is himself a graduate of the Leadership Vallejo program, has served as the curriculum chair for the past three years. The program identifies, educates and trains individuals interested in community organizations and becoming future leaders of their community. Selected individuals meet once a month for nine months for a day long program of education and training. Besides the educational training, individuals work with other participants in small teams, each focused on a community project of their choice.

"If you look at some of the current leaders on some of the boards and commissions in the City of Vallejo, it is sprinkled with people who have gone through the Leadership Vallejo program," said Roger Scranton, who works in Cal Maritime's Department Student Leadership Development. "I really believe in the organization and I look forward to having a chance to keep the program going and develop some of leaders in our community."

"We are thrilled that Roger has been selected as chair elect for Leadership Vallejo," said Harry Bolton, captain of the Training Ship Golden Bear and director of leadership development at Cal Maritime. "Having him on the board creates a natural tie in to our leadership development efforts here at Cal Maritime and also allows us to have an inside track as to how we as a campus can help enhance our own community engagement efforts."

Leadership Vallejo was first launched with a seed grant from the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce. Today, the Chamber continues to assist with some office support services, but the program itself is overseen by a Board of Directors, incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit, operating under their own By-Laws and consisting of interested members of the Vallejo community, working on a volunteer basis. For more information on Leadership Vallejo, visit: www.leadershipvallejo.com.

ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, The California Maritime Academy, a campus of The California State University, is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast. Cal Maritime was recently ranked by Forbes magazine as #18 in the “Top 20 Best Value Colleges” in the nation – and the #1 Best Value in California for providing students with the highest quality education for their academic dollar. Located in Vallejo, Calif., the campus serves approximately 900 students and offers undergraduate degrees preparing students for careers in engineering, transportation, international relations, business, and global logistics. It also offers a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number of extended learning programs and courses. For more information about Cal Maritime, visit www.csum.edu.