It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of alumnus and faculty member Mark Adamshick on November 25.
Adamshick was a graduate of the Naval Academy class of 1981 and a commissioned officer in the United States Navy for 30 years. He served as a naval flight officer and Naval Test Pilot School graduate with more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 25 different aircrafts.
Throughout his career, Adamshick received several decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons, including five Meritorious Service Medals; three Air Medals; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal; and two Navy and Marine Achievement Medals.
Adamshick was an independent consultant, lecturer, researcher and author who focused on the moral dimensions of personnel who serve in public and private organizations. He also served as a faculty member and administrator at four major universities for more than 10 years, including the UMD School of Public Policy.
He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and earned a PhD in policy studies, specializing in management, finance and leadership, from the School of Public Policy.
“I knew Captain Adamshick when he was pursuing his PhD at the University of Maryland. After he graduated, I had him deliver presentations to many of our executive programs on ethics and leadership. He taught for our federal government programs with the Department of Commerce and the FBI, and he also taught in many of our international programs,” says Elizabeth Hinson, associate director of executive programs at SPP. “He was such a wonderful presenter – full of personal insights and inspiration. I so admired his sincerity, vulnerability and willingness to ask the hard questions in front of the room. He was also such a lovely man – personable and caring. He was a proud alumnus of the School of Public Policy and will be missed by all of us at UMD.”
“Mark was a great instructor who was devoted to his students. Leadership ethics was a calling for him and he really wanted to infuse these lessons into every student, every government agency and every business that he came into contact with,” says Michael Goodhart, assistant director of executive programs at SPP. “He had the ability to connect with students on a personal level - and get his points across with a unique personal touch. He called himself "Captain A" and he was a true superhero. His service to our school – and our country – won't be forgotten.”
Adamshick is survived by his wife, Stephanie; children, Gabrielle, Henry and Joseph; mother, Joan Adamshick; sisters, Carol (John) Staats, Irene Sheridan, Mary (John) Karlowski; brothers, Andrew and Gregory (Deanna) Adamshick; many nieces, nephews and cousins.