Plymouth native balances leadership role, academics at Mass. Maritime

March 30, 2016

By David Wolcott, Old Colony Memorial

PLYMOUTH – Opportunities always seem to come to those who seek them.

Instead of just coasting through four years of college while waiting to see what life will bring him upon graduation, Alex Rozak went about on a quest to take part in everything that the Massachusetts Maritime Academy had to offer.

The former Plymouth North three-sport athlete is in his third season as a key member of the Buccaneer baseball team's pitching staff and will soon graduate from Mass. Maritime with a degree in Energy Systems Engineering. With all that entails, he emerged as a squad leader as a junior and for the last year has served as regimental commander to the more than 1,500 cadets at the Buzzards Bay college, taking over that leadership role from fellow Manomet native Gale McGilvray, a Plymouth South graduate.

"Gale and I had some classes together and we became friends. Gale gave me a good idea of what the position of regimental commander was all about," Rozak said. "I really picked his brain about the position and he gave me the confidence to go out of my own comfort zone and to try to correct the things that I thought could be better around the school. He told me to embrace the challenges that go along with the position and have fun with it, enjoy it and leave my own mark."

The regimental commander is the senior ranking cadet of the academy. The person in that position holds all the responsibilities of being a cadet as well as a member of the college administration. The regimental commander meets with school leaders to give the cadets' side of things going on at the school.

One of the people Rozak works closest with is the commandant of cadets and vice-president of student services of the college. In this particular case there was no introduction needed as the man who's held that position for the last 17 years is Alex's father, Ed.

"I was a little concerned about what people would think about him being here as regimental commander, but I'm so proud that Alex has taken on the leadership role strictly on his own merits," Ed Rozak said. "He's the type of person that can bring people together for a common cause and that's what being a leader is all about. People don't look at him as my son, but instead as one of the cadets that's taken charge and stepped up to help where he can. He can stand on his own two feet."

"It's been unbelievable working with him on a day-to-day basis," Alex said. "I'd planned for some rough waters, but there really have not been any that I can think of. I could have never imagined that things would have gone as smoothly as they have.

"When we're home, he's my dad. When we're at the college, it's always 'yes sir', 'no sir', totally professional."

The Rozaks didn't actually start out together. After a great baseball career at Plymouth North, Alex spent one season playing at UMass-Amherst before deciding to transfer.

"I didn't feel like I was a part of things at UMass," Alex explained.

Rozak was accepted into the engineering program at West Virginia and was set to transfer there, but after further discussion he decided to give Mass. Maritime another look.

 "I felt like I was a part of the overall community at Mass. Maritime. You're thrown in with the other new cadets right away and you develop a sense of community and culture in no time at all," Alex said. "I really liked the sense of family that I immediately felt around here and I wanted to do my part to see Mass. Maritime continue to grow and thrive as a school."

"As soon as Alex got here and went through student orientation, he came back and told me that he was going to be regimental commander as a senior because he wanted that leadership opportunity to help make an impact on things here at the school," Ed said. "When Alex gets something in his head, he'll work at it until he gets it accomplished. The last year has worked out well for him and I'm sure he's learned a tremendous amount about being a leader. It's been a great experience for the both of us."

Rozak's leadership qualities extend to the diamond as a captain of the Bucs' baseball team.

"There's some similarities between being a team captain and serving as a regimental commander," he said. "I think the biggest thing involved with both of the positions is making sure you lead by example.

"When you are a leader, what you do and how you do it matters to everyone in the group. As a pitcher, if things aren't working your way, you can't let it show. You're the one with the ball in your hand and you control the pace of things. It's the same idea as a regimental commander. You have to set the tone for the entire cadet group by your deeds and actions. If I'm not acting positively, then there is a strong chance that the group is going to follow suit."

Ed Rozak agreed with his son's assertion about sports developing leadership qualities.

"Some of our best leaders are the men and women that played sports, whether they were a captain or a member of a team," Ed said. "It's all about being part of a certain group and working toward a common goal."

Alex Rozak's role as at Mass. Maritime Academy is quickly coming to a close with graduation coming up on June 18. As you might expect, there are mixed emotions as the day draws closer.

"I'm not sure how I'm going to feel on June 18. This school has given me a lot, and I care deeply for it," he said.