In the News

Chris Wiernicki SM ’85, Retired Chairman and CEO of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and Captain Joseph Darcy ENG ’09, SM ’09 have been appointed as Professors of the Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Ocean Engineering area, which includes the Naval Construction and Engineering (2N) Program. A Professor of the Practice at MIT is a specialized faculty member appointed to bring real-world, high-level professional experience from industry, government, or the arts directly into the academic and research programs.

Captain Joseph Darcy ENG ’09, SM ’09 (left) and Chris Wiernicki SM ’85. Credit: Courtesy Photos

“Chris Wiernicki is a world-leading expert in offshore engineering and maritime safety, dedicated to accelerating the global shipping industry's transition to clean energy and the adoption of AI in the maritime world,” says Themis Sapsis, the William I. Koch Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Director of the MIT Center for Ocean Engineering, and Director of the MIT Maritime Consortium. “He brings a powerful combination of technical engineering mastery and business acumen to solve the complex economic and scalable challenges facing today's maritime sector.”

Wiernicki, who will hold the title of MIT NAVSEA Professor of Naval Construction and Engineering, is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the International Maritime Hall of Fame and is recognized internationally for his expertise in leading maritime, technology, and energy businesses while making the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) the market leader in maritime safety and risk management. From 2011 to 2025, he chaired the board and was the CEO of ABS.

Wiernicki also served on the White House National Infrastructure Advisory Council from 2022 to 2025 and served as an advisor to the Singapore Ministry of Transport and Maritime and Port Authority from 2023 to 2025. Wiernicki holds a master’s degree in structural engineering from George Washington University, a master’s degree in ocean engineering from MIT, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University.

“CAPT Joe Darcy bridges high-level academic research with extensive operational navy leadership. He brings unique expertise around system design, shipyard maintenance, and fleet modernization strategies required to maintain operational readiness at sea,” says Sapsis. “His leadership portfolio features advanced technical command—including serving as Production Officer for the pioneering Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers (DDG 1000 and DDG 1001)—complemented by critical maintenance oversight during complex drydocking periods.”

Darcy is a Navy Engineering Duty Officer, most recently serving as the Commanding Officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, leading the navy’s technical experts in marine engineering.  Darcy has had multiple technical assignments in the navy from ship maintenance, to overseeing the construction of the USS Zumwalt class in Bath, Maine, to serving U.S. forces in Afghanistan by ensuring adequate electrical and fire safety, theater-wide. 

Darcy graduated in 2001 from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He received a Master of Science in Transportation and a Naval Engineer degree from MIT in 2009, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2018.

“CAPT Joe Darcy brings decades of operational Navy leadership in ship design, construction, and maintenance. Students will gain a Navy expert’s view of how research and design translate into real ships, learning how technical, industrial, and operational constraints come together in building and sustaining the fleet,” says Sapsis.