MAAP was founded in January 1998 by the visionary President of the Associated Marine Officers’ Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP-PTGWO-ITF) and Chairman of the MAAP Governing Board, Capt Gregorio S. Oca, MM. On October 20, 1999, MAAP under the admirable leadership of its pioneer President VAdm Eduardo Ma R. Santos streamlined its organizational structure by creating the Department of Academics (AD) to be led by a Dean and the Department of Research and Extension Services (DRES) to be led by a Director. The MAAP former Acting Executive Dean for Maritime Education and Dean for General Education Dr. Angelica M. Baylon, had assumed the DRES Director post in 1999 to date, and is tasked to plan, develop, promote, coordinate and lead the research programs and activities in MAAP that would complement or supplement instruction and extension services, in line with the MAAP President Strategic Development Plans and Higher Educational Institutions’ mandated functions  (Instruction, Research and Extension Services)  by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education.