NYCEDC Hosts Seventh Annual Maritime & Aviation Career Awareness Fair for NYC Students

More than 550 Students from All Five Boroughs Will Convene With 65+ Industry Professionals at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to Explore Training Pathways and Career Possibilities

Initiative Strengthens Equitable School-to-Career Pathways by Connecting New York City Students Directly to Maritime, Aviation, Freight Logistics, and Emerging Green Industries

Expanded Program Focus Highlights Aviation Sector for First Time, Reflecting City Efforts to Advance Sustainable Transportation Alternatives

BROOKLYN, NY-New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced it will be hosting the seventh annual Maritime and Aviation Career Awareness Fair, convening approximately 65 industry professionals and 550 public high school juniors and seniors at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal (BCT) on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. From 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, students will have the opportunity to explore careers in the local maritime, aviation, freight logistics, and emerging green industries including offshore wind. The Career Awareness Fair is NYCEDC's flagship youth-focused workforce development event and has an expanded focus this year on the aviation sector, reflecting the city's commitment to advance low-carbon and sustainable transportation alternatives. Over the years, more than 2,500 New York City students have attended past fairs. By bringing together future jobseekers, industry leaders, and educators, this event builds equitable career pipelines for critical industries-uplifting New York City's young and innovative minds while ensuring businesses have access to a skilled local workforce.

"We are proud to invest in the next generation of talent for two of New York City's most critical sectors that keep our city connected and running every day," said NYCEDC Interim President and CEO Jeanny Pak. "A strong local workforce is essential to New York City's long-term economic competitiveness, and by connecting students directly with employers and training partners, we are building equitable pathways into the industries shaping the city's future."

The fair aims to introduce students and future jobseekers to employers, unions, and training providers across the maritime and aviation industries; highlight clear career ladders, wage potential, and credentialing pathways for high-quality jobs; and equitably increase career awareness for high school juniors and seniors from all five boroughs.

In addition to connecting with industry experts, the event will feature a career hall and on-water, on-land, and potential aerial demonstrations, weather permitting. Activities will include opportunities for students to explore a variety of vessels, trucks, and robotics technology, and students may have the chance to observe a U.S. Coast Guard search-and-rescue demonstration. Students will also have the chance to participate in bus tours of Red Hook Container Terminal, during which they will learn about jobs vital to the vision for blue highways.

"Sometimes all it takes is exposure to spark a future career. The Maritime and Aviation Career Fair connects students with the industries that keep New York City moving, shows students the many opportunities available beyond the classroom, and prepares them for the jobs of the future. Creating clear (and green!) pathways from the classroom to good-paying careers is essential for building a stronger, more inclusive workforce," said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.

"Early career exposure is one of the most effective ways to build pathways to good jobs for our City's youth," said NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Doug Lipari. "Bringing together aviation and maritime employers, educators, labor, and students in one place underscores the City's commitment to the career success of young New Yorkers."

"As both the operator of NYC Ferry and the only authorized provider of ferry service to the Statue of Liberty, Hornblower is committed to building on its success establishing robust maritime career pathways for local crew," said Timothy O'Brien, Senior Vice President of Ferries and Concessions at Hornblower Group. "New Yorkers know their city best, and connecting local students-often without any prior maritime experience-to rewarding careers on the waterfront via internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and extensive community outreach ensures our crews reflect the city and neighborhoods we serve while delivering tangible economic benefits of the waterfront back into those communities."

"New York City is where Joby's vision moves from concept to reality. Through school partnerships and events like NYCEDC's career fair, we're connecting students to real opportunities in aviation, engineering, and technical careers right here in their own city. We're proud to support an effort that gives NYC public school students direct exposure to a field that is transforming how cities move," said Lydon Sleeper, Head of U.S. Strategic Policy at Joby Aviation.

"Providing the NYC community with training in maritime, renewable energy, and sustainable technologies is crucial to meeting workforce demands in these growing sectors," said Robert Zandi, the Associate Director of Renewable Energy Programs at Kingsborough Community College. "With generous funding and steadfast support from the NYCEDC, Kingsborough Community College has expanded training programs, secured necessary equipment, and created pathways that equip students with technical skills and industry-recognized credentials, providing cross-transferable skills that give participants a strong start on their career path. This funding from the NYCEDC enables KBCC to further inspire, educate, and empower the NYC community while strengthening workforce readiness and connecting participants to career opportunities."

"At the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, the annual NYCEDC Maritime Career Fair is one of the highlights of our year. As a public high school built upon the dual pillars of maritime careers and environmental stewardship, this event is well aligned with our mission. It is an opportunity for students in eight CTE pathways ranging from marine science to marine technology to find a spark, meet a person, or engage with a presentation that ignites a future career plan," said Mike Cohen, the Partnership Manager at the Harbor School. "Each year, NYCEDC sends a private NYC Ferry to pick up students, crewed by Harbor School graduates. It is easy to see that the day's career awareness begins long before we arrive at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, with students seeing graduates of their own programs working as maritime professionals-Captains and Deckhands-here in New York Harbor."

"Events like the Maritime and Aviation Career Awareness Fair are exactly what our students need. At Ralph McKee CTE, we're training the next generation of engineers, fabricators, and technicians-but connecting classroom skills to real career pathways is what makes that training stick," said Thomas Smolka, a science and automotive engineering teacher at Ralph R. McKee CTE High School. "When a student shakes hands with a port engineer or an offshore wind technician and sees themselves in that role, something clicks. That's the moment that changes their trajectory."

"At McKee, we're building a solar-powered race car this year-but knowing how to build something and knowing how to turn that into a career are two different things," said Automotive Engineering student and Seagull Solar team member Joseph Bruton. "Events like this help me feel more confident that I'm going to find a job. I think that talking to people who are actually working in offshore wind, aviation, and maritime gives you a real map of where the industry is going and what it takes to get there."

"In Mr. Smolka's class at McKee, I've been getting hands-on with engines, electrical systems, and fabrication-the kind of work you can't learn just by reading a textbook," said Automotive Engineering student Jayden Wallace. "I'm looking at trade school after graduation, but I want to make sure I'm headed in the right direction. This fair is about understanding what the industry actually needs-what certifications open doors, what a journeyman or apprenticeship pathway looks like in maritime or offshore wind, and whether the skills I'm building now are the ones that will actually get me hired."

"I'm attending so that I can make meaningful connections with people who are already in the workforce so that I can learn from their experiences. I hope that I can gain some insight into different fields that may interest me and see what opportunities may arise in the future," said Brooklyn STEAM Center scholar Rezone Mortuza. "My long-term goal is to make a big enough impact in my future career so that I can get a job where I can progress and reach my financial goal of living comfortably."

"I'm attending the fair to explore new opportunities, meet people, and learn more about different career paths," said Brooklyn STEAM Center scholar Shamiya Perry. "I hope to make meaningful connections, gain insight into different industries, and learn what skills I should keep building. My long-term goal is to build a successful career in the architectural field while continuing to grow and learn over time."

"I'm attending the fair to explore other career options I may not be considering currently. I hope to gain an understanding of what the many industry representatives do for a living and if it's possible for me to partake in it. My long-term goals are to buy a house, have a successful career in whatever I have a passion for, and to help as many people as possible with my talents," said Brooklyn STEAM Center scholar John Jerome.

"Direct engagement with professionals allows students to better understand industry expectations, workplace environments, and the opportunities available within these fields," said Bronx Aerospace High School CTE Teacher Slawomir Surowiec. "These connections can open doors to internships, mentorships, and ultimately job opportunities-helping students transition more smoothly from education into the workforce."

"I am interested in attending this trip to build meaningful connections with others and explore potential opportunities they may offer," said Bronx Aerospace High School student Fredric Salce.

"I am interested in participating in this trip to explore potential career opportunities within the maritime industry," said Bronx Aerospace High School student Tyler Ortiz. "Additionally, I hope to build meaningful professional connections and engage with mentors who can support my intellectual and professional development."

"As an Assistant Principal at Sunset Park High School, I value opportunities like the Maritime and Aviation Career Awareness Fair that connect our students directly with industry professionals. Experiences like this give students a firsthand understanding of career pathways while helping them strengthen essential skills such as communication, networking and professionalism," said Sunset Park High School Assistant Principal Felicia Chang. "After attending last year, we saw students leave more confident and motivated, with a clearer sense of their goals. Events like this play an important role in opening doors and creating real-world opportunities for our students' futures."

"I am excited to talk to people from the industry. I am interested in studying marine biology and I want to hear and see more about what my future career might look like," said Sunset Part High School student Destiny Gonzalez.

"I want to learn more about the pathway towards the trade that I'm interested in and what are the different opportunities out there for me," said Sunset Park High School Student Joshua Kennedy.

The flagship workforce development event represents NYCEDC's ongoing commitment to advancing the City's goal-laid out in NYC's Working Waterfront: A Blueprint for Blue Highways, the Vision for Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and the Green Economy Action Plan-to support equitable job growth across the maritime, aviation, and green economy sectors. Blue highways alone are projected to grow by 72 percent over the next decade, creating 8,000 new jobs in New York City by 2035. Total jobs across the maritime, transportation, and logistics sectors are projected to reach 117,000 by 2035, up from 68,000 today. And by 2040, the City's green economy is projected to employ nearly 400,000 New Yorkers.

This initiative builds on NYCEDC's commitment to transform infrastructure at city-owned sites like Downtown Skyport to support electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and Blue Highways maritime freight delivery. NYCEDC is also revitalizing 122 acres of land across Brooklyn's waterfront at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, reimaging the site into a mixed-use community and modern maritime port-connecting the critical hub to the Blue Highway network, while addressing the housing crisis. Along the Red Hook waterfront, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal provides a gateway to New York with shore power that allows cruise ships to plug into the electrical grid while docked so they can shut down their diesel engines and reduce emissions. NYCEDC is also transforming the city-owned South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into one of the largest offshore wind ports in the nation. Together, NYCEDC's investments in infrastructure and workforce development are building a more resilient city-one that is economically just and well positioned for long-term growth.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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