After a 12,500-mile voyage across the Pacific, 283 Cal Poly Maritime Academy cadets returned home to Vallejo on July 6, completing Golden Bear's final Summer Sea Term after 30 years of service as the academy's primary training vessel. For many of the cadets, the voyage was not only an educational experience but also a journey of personal growth.  

For three decades, Golden Bear has been more than a ship – it has been a classroom at sea, where thousands of cadets transformed classroom knowledge into practical experience at sea. This summer's voyage included port calls in San Diego, Tahiti, Fiji and Honolulu, giving cadets invaluable hands-on experience as they prepare for careers as future maritime leaders.  

Along the way, students stood watch on the bridge and in the engine room, operated complex ship systems, participated in emergency drills and developed the skills required of future maritime officers. Ultimately, they learned to be leaders while contributing to the shared mission of their shipmates – discovering that a successful voyage is dependent on more than just a skill set learned in the classroom. Success also demands resilience, collaboration and the ability to adapt to the unexpected.

Finding His Course at Sea

For Jack Edelhauser, a senior majoring in marine transportation, a traditional 9-to-5 routine was never part of the plan. He served as a cadet watch officer aboard the Golden Bear, working toward the goal of becoming an officer aboard a merchant vessel after graduation.  

Growing up in Newport Beach, California, Edelhauser was familiar with the maritime industry through family members, including an uncle who attended Cal Maritime in the 1980s. Although his uncle ultimately built a shoreside career, his experience sparked an interest in the maritime industry for Edelhauser. While he wasn't completely certain that a maritime career was the right fit when he enrolled, his perspective changed after his first summer training voyage. "After my freshman year and spending the summer out here at sea, I really did love it," he said.

Now entering his senior year, Edelhauser is preparing for the next step in his professional journey. As a cadet watch officer, he is gaining the supervised bridge experience required for licensure, including navigating, maintaining a lookout and learning ship operations under senior officers. His goal after graduation is to earn his merchant mariner's license and serve as a licensed deck officer, taking responsibility for the safe navigation and operation of commercial vessels.

“Golden Bear has helped prepare generations of maritime professionals through hands-on training at sea,” said Rear Adm. Eric C. Jones, a retired U.S. Coast Guard and superintendent of Cal Poly Maritime Academy. “More than a training vessel, Golden Bear represented an ethos that has guided the education of maritime leaders at this academy for nearly a century. We are grateful for the ship’s service and the role it has played in shaping thousands of careers.”

 Leading Below Deck

As cadet chief engineer, Allison Bailey, a marine engineering technology major, learned that the key to strong leadership is working together as a team. The Bakersfield, California, native oversaw scheduling and served as a resource for fellow cadets navigating the day-to-day demands of shipboard engineering. "Honestly, I have such a good crew that everything has been so smooth,” Bailey said. “We all work together and the teamwork on board is so helpful when problems arise."

After graduation, she plans to continue building her career at sea, working toward a chief engineer's license for motor vessels. For Bailey, many of the most memorable experiences of the journey happened when the ship reached port. The opportunity to immerse herself in new cultures and strengthen friendships with classmates has become one of the defining aspects of her education. "My favorite part of this program is the cultural endeavors and the experiences that we get to have," she said.

One highlight came during a stop in Tahiti, where Bailey explored the island's black-sand beaches and spent time with her division outside of work. "I spent a lot of time with my division building camaraderie," she said. For Bailey, those shared experiences and connections, both on board the Golden Bear and around the world, have defined the collective spirit that defines the student experience at Cal Poly Maritime Academy. 

Senior Joshua Ancog, who is from Pearl City, Hawaii, is no stranger to sea life. The trip was his third training voyage and the bridge watch became one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. Senior students mentor underclassmen while everyone works toward the shared goal of operating the vessel safely – from monitoring the ship’s position and charting and plotting the journey to ensuring security protocols are followed.  

Ancog plans to return home to Hawaii and build a career in the tugboat industry, a choice that will allow him to remain closer to home and raise a family while staying in the maritime industry. "I want to stay home and have a family," he said.

Cal Poly Maritime Academy is preparing for the arrival of Golden State, a National Security Multi-Mission Vessel that will become the academy’s next training ship. Expected to arrive in Vallejo in 2027, Golden State will provide expanded training capabilities, modern instructional spaces and new opportunities for hands-on learning at sea.

“It has been a privilege to be part of Golden Bear’s final Summer Sea Term,” said Cadet First Class Jenny Scott, Summer Sea Term corps commander. “At the same time, I am excited for the cadets who will build on this legacy aboard Training Ship Golden State. They will have opportunities that previous generations could only imagine as they usher in the next chapter of maritime education at Cal Poly Maritime Academy.” 

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