How Old Ironsides Got Its Nickname

An accomplished business consultant and former officer in the United States Navy, Maxwell Mulholland draws upon more than three decades of cumulative experience in both the public and private sectors to excel in his role as President of M+M Strategic Enterprises LLC, a management consulting firm located in Winthrop, Massachusetts. Outside of his professional life, Maxwell Mulholland is an active member of the community who also serves as an Overseer at the USS Constitution Museum.

Located today in Boston's historic Naval Yard, the USS Constitution Museum is dedicated to the most famous sailing frigate in American history and one of the oldest still-existing warships in the world. Commissioned by George Washington in 1794 and launched by John Adams in 1797, the USS Constitution served the U.S. Navy well in numerous conflicts while earning the nickname “Old Ironsides.”

The “Old Ironsides” nickname originated during the War of 1812, when the warship engaged an equivalent enemy frigate, the HMS Guerriere of Britain’s superb Royal Navy. During a fierce battle off the coast of Massachusetts, British sailors shot multiple cannonballs at the USS Constitution, only to watch helplessly as they bounced off the ship’s sturdy oak sides. The phenomenon prompted an American sailor to declare that the USS Constitution’s sides must be made of iron.

The nickname further entered American lore in the 1840s, when the Navy proposed scrapping the USS Constitution. However, the publication of Oliver Wendell Holmes’ famous poem “Old Ironsides,” coupled with support from prominent U.S. military heroes, prompted a public outcry that convinced the Navy to retain and restore the ship.

A Brief Overview of Glide Path Formulations

Maxwell Mulholland is the president of M+M Strategic Enterprises LLC, a consulting firm he founded four years ago in Winthrop, Massachusetts. In this position, Maxwell Mulholland has taken on a number of significant consulting projects, including the restructuring of a major Boston-area commercial mechanical contractor, thereby helping his client to achieve an effective glide path to continued business growth.

In business, "glide path" is a term used to describe the road map of asset allocation in relation to a target date fund. A glide path can be structured non-conservatively, with more equities than fixed assets, or conservatively, though all glide paths become more conservative as the target date draws nearer. Similarly, glide paths can be designed with a steep trajectory, while others might swap out equities for fixed assets at a more gradual rate, depending on the specific goals of individual investors.

Target date funds and, by extension, glide path formulas are particularly relevant in regards to retirement planning. Younger investors are viewed as having more time before retirement and should, therefore, maintain higher risk portfolios comprised mostly of equities, while older investors are advised to prioritize fixed-income investments. Specific types of glide paths include declining paths, static paths, and rising glide paths.

Educational Opportunities at the USS Constitution Museum

As the president of M+M Strategic Enterprises, Maxwell Mulholland leverages his over 25 years of international leadership experience to provide consulting services to companies seeking to implement growth strategies, develop high performance policies, processes, and procedures, and increase profitability. Aside from his professional endeavors, Maxwell Mulholland also volunteers his time as an Overseer of the USS Constitution Museum in Boston.

Located just steps from the oldest afloat commissioned warship in the world, the USS Constitution Museum ensures that the stories of her service to the nation, and the historical records, artifacts, and documents associated with Old Ironsides are never forgotten. The museum, which draws over 300,000 visitors per year, gives insight into life as a sailor during the early 1800s. 

Educators across the country benefit from the USS Constitution Museum’s broad variety of educational programs. For those within driving distance, the museum offers a number of facilitated programs that explore all aspects of life on a naval ship during the War of 1812. They can also participate in programs related to ship design, inventions, simple machines, and ship construction. 

For educators who cannot participate in an on-site field trip, quality online programming is also available. The “A Sailor’s Life for Me” curriculum, designed for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, is linked to national curriculum standards for social studies and includes an online game, worksheets, illustrations, and primary source documents. Students can virtually explore the USS Constitution and investigate the daily lives of 450 sailors who once lived and worked aboard the ship. 

The museum also offers a curriculum titled “All Hands on Deck: Learning Adventures aboard Old Ironsides.” Designed for the same age group, this curriculum offers educators access to quality learning materials to supplement studies within the classroom.

Olmsted Scholars Complete Studies Abroad

Maxwell Mulholland, the president of M+M Strategic Enterprises LLC, has over 25 years of executive and entrepreneurial experience in international leadership, management, and strategic planning. In his consulting role, he has served small companies as well as large, global corporations in a number of capacities. Prior to his career in the civilian world, Maxwell Mulholland enjoyed a successful career as a naval officer. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Mr. Mulholland was named an "Olmsted Scholar", a prestigious award given to a small number of officers each year.

For 50 years, the Olmsted Foundation has enabled highly skilled officers within all five branches of the military to pursue graduate studies in an immersive context abroad. To date, scholars have journeyed overseas to 200 different universities in 60 countries. Officers chosen as "Olmsted Scholars" complete a degree in a variety of graduate-level topics at universities outside of the United States, including law, economics, political and social sciences, history, and international affairs.

In order to be named an Olmsted Scholar, a candidate must show an aptitude for leadership and exhibit drive, self-discipline, and the pursuit of personal achievement. They must also demonstrate superior ability to speak and read a foreign language. Only active-duty officers with total active service between three and 11 years are considered. Between 15 and 20 scholars are named each year.

Pursuing between two-and-a-half and three years of graduate studies in a fully immersive environment overseas stretches every student. The Olmsted Foundation believes that the experience enhances an officer’s worldview, giving him or her the ability to appreciate different perspectives more deeply. Awareness of varying cultures and traditions supplements the intellectual benefits of graduate studies, preparing scholars for a lifetime of leadership.

All Hands on Deck, an Exhibit at the USS Constitution Museum

Maxwell Mulholland, an entrepreneurial executive and President ofgi M+M Stratec Enterprises, a management consulting firm located in Boston, helps his clients identify operational challenges and implement solutions that promote corporate growth and long-term business success. In addition to his professional endeavors, Maxwell Mulholland, who also graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served as a line officer in the US Navy, also volunteers his time as an Overseer at the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, Massachusetts.

Launched in 1797, the USS Constitution, or “Old Ironsides,” is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. The USS Constitution Museum, located near the ship, helps people of all ages learn about maritime history, specifically the stories related to Old Ironsides.

In 2009, the USS Constitution Museum launched an exhibit called “All Hands on Deck: A Sailors Life in 1812.” The design of the family-centered exhibit, which encompassed 10 years of research, dives into the real-life stories of some of the 1,243 people who served aboard the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.

To assemble material for the interactive exhibit, researchers investigated census records, memoirs, diaries, journals, and newspapers of the era. Because of their extensive research, visitors can now experience life aboard a ship during the War of 1812. They can furl a sail, scrub the deck, lie in a hammock, and try their hand at tying knots, all while learning about real people who helped defend the United States more than 200 years ago.

Harvard Alumni Association's Boston Chapter - Helping Local Nonprofits

Since 2014, Maxwell Mulholland has led M+M Strategic Enterprises, LLC, a Winthrop, Massachusetts-based firm that helps clients implement organizational and sales procedures that maximize growth and productivity. An alumnus of the US Navy Academy (USNA), Maxwell Mulholland graduated with honors and a bachelor of science in political science, and was then commissioned as a US Navy officer in 1982. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and maintains membership in the Boston Chapter of the Harvard Alumni Association, which runs a program called Community Action Partners. 

Dedicated to helping local nonprofit organizations succeed, Community Action Partners provides pro-bono consulting from alumni of Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. To qualify for assistance, greater Boston entities must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or another officially recognized social organization with at least five full-time staff members and a board of directors.

Organizations benefit from a team of six experienced Harvard alumni who each work for two to four hours each week for approximately six months. Qualifying projects include those relating to business or management, such as organizations experiencing challenges in the areas of organizational development, strategic planning, or finance. 

To learn more about the Community Action Partners program, visit www.CAP-HBSAB.org.