Mr. George Hairston Jr.

OBMG Board Member

Was born and raised in Brooklyn NY. Losing his father at the early age of ten, his mother raised not only his two older sisters and himself, but several other foster children over the course of her lifetime. As a single parent, his mother worked hard to ensure they all were taken care of. From elementary through middle school, George attended private school at St. Mark’s Lutheran. With a desire to try something different, he decided to attend public school, The East New York High School of Transit Technology where he learned how to operate various equipment found in a machine shop. This was when he made the early decision that he wanted to be an Engineer. 

While participating in the New York Summer youth employment program, George was fortunate to be assigned to the Maritime Workshop. This was a non-profit organization designed to teach inner city kids about the maritime industry. George took an immediate interest to being on the water. Working with the awesome staff of the Maritime Workshop whom he now considers family, George learned what it takes to be a responsible young man and how to lead and manage young people. When suggested that he apply to SUNY Maritime College, where he can obtain a degree as a Marine Engineer he seized the opportunity. 

Over the course of 4.5 years George graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Facilities Engineering and a U.S. Coast Guard license as a Third Assistant Engineer.  Following his completion of college, George accepted employment with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) to pursue a career as a Merchant Marine officer. Over nine years, he worked tirelessly up the chain of command to accept his first assignment as Chief Engineer in 2010. Since then, he has sailed on several platforms available within MSC. 

George walked away from shipping after 20 years to pursue a shore side career he spent two years as the Director of Facilities for the Barnstable County Sheriff’s office. In this role George was part of the executive staff that managed the correctional facility in his county. Now George works in the commercial real estate sector as a Rover Chief Engineer for BXP. He supports several property management teams in day to day operation of 4.3 million square feet of commercial rental office and retail space.