Albert Marra, a professor in Teaching and Learning, was honored with a Coast Guard Special Achievement Award for his work translating key documents related to the grounding and sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship in Italy approximately two years ago.
Marra has been a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for the past 19 years. He is also a member of Flotilla 51 (Virginia Beach), and has been a certified member of their Interpreter Corps, certified in Italian and Spanish, for a little over two years.
The award was presented at the Division Change of Watch Awards Banquet at the Norfolk Naval Station in January 2014.