Chief Engineer Alfredo M. Firme is a graduate of BS Marine Transportation (Marine Engineering) at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, Class of 1970.

Upon Graduation at PMMA, Fred Firme joined the Philippine Navy as an Ensign.  He served the Navy for fifteen years and his latest assignment was the Commander of the Fleet Operational Readiness Training and Evaluation Group (FORTEG) of the Philippine Fleet. He left the Navy in 1985, joined the Merchant Marine profession started as a Fourth Engineer and yearly, he took the board exams to upgrade his license and he got his Chief Engineer’s license in 5 years. He was a Chief Engineer for ten years on board, mostly on Norwegian ships. He was hired as a Faculty Member for Marine Engineering Program when MAAP started its operation in 1999.  He was designated as the Assistant Training Director of the AMOSUP Seamen’s Training Center in 2002. While at MAAP, he was sent to different schoolings/trainings to include attending conferences both local and international.  He finished his Master’s Degree in Maritime Education (MaME) at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy. Took his Advanced Simulator Instructor Training in Terchelling, Netherlands.  He was the MAAP Supervisor of the Year in 2003.Chief Firme was awarded (a national award) by the Philippine Association of Marine Training Centers of the Philippine Inc. (PAMTCI) as the Maritime Instructor of the Year in 2005.He was awarded the “Students’ Choice Award, Best Educator Marine Engineering” in 2009. Chief Engr Firme assumed as Director of the MAAP Simulator Center in 2005.  He was designated as the Director of the Vessel Training Center  in June 2009.

Chief Engr Firme presented 2 papers in international conferences, the first was during the International Conference for Engine Room Simulator Users (ICERS 8) in November 2007, the second paper was presented at the 8th Asian Conference on Marine Simulator and Simulation Research entitled “Simulator Training in the Philippines” at Hiroshima, Japan last 2008. He was a Resource Person last March 2010 to discuss on Trouble Shooting and Maintenance on Marine Engineering Equipment by the Tokyo Maritime University and the Japan Marine Equipment Association (JMEA) for Japanese cadets and marine technicians.

Chief Engineer Firme have a close knit family.  Married to former Nena Fontillas Elefane and blessed with two grown up adults and two grand daughters.  His son followed his footsteps, also a Chief Engineer on board a Gas Tanker of Bergesen Worldwide Shipping.  His daughter is connected with ABENSON assigned in Visayas and Mindanao areas.

His management experiences both in the Navy and the Merchant Marine give due advantage in supervising the three departments of MAAP: the MAAP Simulator Center, the Vessel Training Center and recently, he was designated as the Acting Dean of Academics effective July 29, 2010.