Founding of the Alliance
HISTORY
MTA was the inspiration of Maryland’s US Senator, the Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes. He realized the value, importance and the need to sustain the naval and maritime assets in the region.
To embrace the Senator’s vision, MTA was established in August 2001. Since its inception, MTA has worked closely with the Maryland Office of Military & Federal Affairs (OMFA), Montgomery County and the congressional staffs of both Maryland and Virginia and the many naval & maritime businesses in the region.
“With its world-class facilities and highly skilled workforce, the State of Maryland has long played a critical role in bolstering the maritime capabilities of our region and the nation. I am confident that the Maritime Technology Alliance will continue to serve as an effective agent for the region’s important maritime assets.”
— U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) 1977-2007
Martime Hub & Region
A Maritime Hub
The Mid-Atlantic region is home to the largest and most experienced cadre of scientists and engineers existing in the country today dedicated to naval and maritime technology development and support capabilities
The area is richly endowed with outstanding naval and maritime assets at the Carderock Division Naval Surface Warfare Center in West Bethesda, MD, the U.S Coast Guard Yard facility in Curtis Bay, MD, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and the large and very active port facility in Baltimore, MD.
In addition, there are many outstanding public and private sector organizations, large and small, located in this area that contribute greatly to US naval and maritime superiority while supporting regional economic and national security interests.
A Maritime Region
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the US—about 200 miles long with more than 11,000 miles of shoreline with more than 150 major rivers & streams supporting more than 15 million people in the region.
The Maryland area is home to world’s foremost maritime R&D and test and evaluation facilities located at the Carderock Division’s West Bethesda, MD site. This site is supported by the greatest concentration of scientists and engineers in the country dedicated to naval and maritime technology.
The 300-year old port of Baltimore is one of the busiest ports on the East Coast, handling more than 30 million tons of cargo per year valued at more than 52 billion dollars. The port employs more than 126,000 Maryland residents, generating wages and salaries of more than 3 billion dollars annually.
The DELMARVA area is home to a vast array of premier boat builders, naval architects, and marine engineers, and our ports and harbors are a critical element of our domestic homeland security.