This is a list of the leaders of the institution now known as the State University of New York Maritime College.
| # | Rank | Name | Years in office | Graduate | Name of position | Name of organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CDR (USN) | Robert L. Phythian | 1874-1878 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 2. | CAPT (USN) | Henry Erben | 1879-1882 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 3. | CDR (USN) | Edwin M. Shepard | 1883-1886 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 4. | CDR (USN) | A. S. Crowninshield | 1887-1890 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 5. | CDR (USN) | John McGowan | 1891-1894 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 6. | LCDR (USN) | W. L. Field | 1894-1897 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 7. | LCDR (USN) | W. H. Reeder | 1897-1898 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 8. | CAPT (USN) | Howard Patterson | 1898-1898 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 9. | CDR (USN) | W. H. Reeder | 1898-1901 | New York Nautical School | Superintendent | |
| 10. | CDR (USN) | A. V. Wadhams | 1901-1902 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 11. | CDR (USN ret.) | G. C. Hanus | 1902-1908 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 12. | LCDR (USN ret.) | L. H. Everhart | 1908-1911 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 13. | CAPT (USN ret.) | Harry M. Dombaugh | 1911-1912 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 14. | CDR (USN ret.) | Edwin H. Tillman | 1912-1914 | Superintendent | New York Nautical School | |
| 15. | LCDR (USNR) | J. R. Driggs | 1914-1914 | Graduate | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School |
| 16. | LCDR (USNR) | F. S. McMurray | 1914-1917 | Graduate | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School |
| 17. | LCDR (USNR) | Felix Riesenberg | 1917-1919 | Graduate | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School |
| 18. | LCDR (USNR) | T. W. Sheridan | 1919-1919 | Graduate | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School |
| 19. | LCDR (USCG) | J. S. Baylis | 1919-1923 | Graduate | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School |
| 20. | LCDR (USNR) | Felix Riesenberg | 1923-1924 | Graduate | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School |
| 21. | CDR (USNR) | E. V. W. Keen | 1925-1927 | Graduate | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School |
| 22. | CAPT (USN ret.) | James Harvey Tomb | 1927-1942 | Superintendent | New York State Nautical School/New York State Merchant Marine Academy | |
| 23. | VADM (USN ret.) | Thomas Tingey Craven | 1942-1945 | Superintendent | New York State Maritime Academy | |
| 24. | VADM (USN ret.) | Herbert F. Leary | 1946-1951 | Superintendent/President | New York State Maritime Academy/State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 25. | VADM (USN ret.) | Calvin T. Durgin | 1951-1959 | President | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 26. | VADM (USCG ret.) | H. C. Moore | 1959-1967 | Graduate | President | State University of New York Maritime College |
| 27. | RADM (USN ret.) | Edward J. O'Donnell | 1967-1972 | President | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 28. | RADM (USN ret.) | Sheldon H. Kinney | 1972-1982 | President | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 29. | RADM (USN ret.) | Floyd H. Miller | 1982-1995 | Graduate | President | State University of New York Maritime College |
| 30. | RADM (USMS) | David Brown | 1995-2002 | President | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 31. | VADM (USN ret.) | John W. Craine Jr. | 2001-2002 | President (interim) | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 32. | VADM (USN ret.) | John R. Ryan | 2002-2005 | President | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 33. | VADM (USN ret.) | John W. Craine Jr. | 2005-2011 | President | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 34. | RADM (USN ret.) | Wendi B. Carpenter | 2011-2013 | President | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 35. | None | Michael A. Cappeto | 2013-2014 | President (interim) | State University of New York Maritime College | |
| 36. | RADM (USMS) | Michael A. Alfultis | 2014- | President | State University of New York Maritime College |