About the Captain
CAPT Reginald E. McKamie
- 2025 Kings Pointer of the Year – USMMA Alumni of the Year
- 2023 UH Law Center Alumni of the year.
Captain Reginald E. McKamie Sr. ’75 is the embodiment of the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s enduring motto, Acta Non Verba—Deeds, Not Words. Across more than four decades, his career has been defined by exceptional leadership and service in maritime command, military service, the legal profession, and civic life. His achievements reflect a rare breadth of excellence and an unwavering commitment to the nation, the maritime industry, and future generations of professionals.
A two-time recipient of the Academy’s Outstanding Professional Achievement Award (1995 and 2020), Captain McKamie’s legacy culminated in his selection as the 2025 USMMA Alumnus of the Year, a distinction that honors a lifetime of leadership, integrity, and service.
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Maritime Leadership
Captain McKamie’s professional journey began at sea, where he was first hired as an Able-Bodied Seaman. Through determination and mastery of his craft, he advanced through every deck officer rating to ultimately command some of the world’s largest and most complex commercial vessels.
His command of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs)—including the S/S Exxon North Slope and the S/S Exxon Benicia—represents the highest standard of maritime responsibility and leadership.
He has held an Unlimited Master Mariner license for more than 43 years, a testament to his enduring expertise, professionalism, and dedication to maritime excellence.
Military Service
Parallel to his civilian maritime career, Captain McKamie served 30 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve, retiring at the rank of Captain (O-6). His military career included numerous senior command assignments, notably as Commanding Officer of Military Sealift Command units in Korea, New Orleans, San Francisco, and the Panama Canal Zone.
In recognition of his service and leadership, he received the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. His simultaneous success in both maritime and naval careers reflects an uncommon and distinguished level of national service.
Legal Excellence
Captain McKamie’s third professional chapter is marked by exceptional achievement in the law. While working full time in corporate human resources and finance, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center. He later became Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization—an elite credential held by only a small percentage of attorneys.
His legal practice has spanned the United States, including securing the largest workplace injury verdict in Texas in 2005. His professional honors include recognition as one of Houston’s Top Lawyers by H Texas Magazine, repeated selection as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly, and designation as a Preeminent Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell in 2025, the organization’s highest rating.
In addition, Captain McKamie is a Certified Public Accountant and is licensed to practice before numerous federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Civic Engagement, Education, and Mentorship
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Captain McKamie has devoted significant time and resources to public service, education, and mentorship. A committed supporter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he mentors midshipmen and alumni, contributes philanthropically to the USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation, and has served as a prominent speaker at Academy and alumni events—including as keynote speaker for the 2024 dedication of the USMMA Black History Exhibit.
From 2020 to 2025, he served as Chair of the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Ports of Harris County, Texas, overseeing pilotage operations for one of the busiest and most strategically vital port complexes in the United States. His leadership ensured safety, efficiency, and regulatory integrity within the Houston Ship Channel.
Captain McKamie has also served on the University of Houston Law Foundation Board, where he is a Cornerstone member, and has led scholarship fundraising efforts for the Black Law Students Association. In 2023, the University of Houston honored him as Law Center Alumnus of the Year, recognizing his impact among more than 18,000 graduates.
As an educator, he has shared his expertise as an Adjunct Professor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, teaching maritime law and litigation and helping shape the next generation of legal professionals
Committed to the future of maritime leaders CAPT McKamie has endowed scholarships at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and The University of Houston Law Center.
National Leadership and Professional Service
At the national level, Captain McKamie has served on the National Research Council’s Marine Board, the State Bar College of Texas Board, and the Navigation Safety Advisory Council, the latter by appointment of U.S. Secretaries of Transportation.
He is a life member of the National Bar Association and the NAACP, and a former Proctor in the Maritime Law Association of the United States.
Personal Life and Legacy
Captain McKamie’s legacy extends to his family and community. He is the proud father of Reginald and Ryan, who have pursued distinguished careers in the arts and cybersecurity, respectively, and a devoted grandfather to Royal Cali and Reign London McKamie.
He consistently credits his success to the mentorship, support, and camaraderie of fellow Kings Pointers—many of whom guided him, sought his counsel, or entrusted him with the legal representation of mariners in need.
A Model Alumnus
Through a lifetime defined by excellence, service, leadership, and integrity, Captain Reginald E. McKamie Sr. exemplifies the highest ideals of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
His career stands as a powerful testament to what it means to live Acta Non Verba—and to serve with distinction across every arena of professional and public life.