JMS Naval Architects & Salvage Engineers (JMS) has named Blake Powell to the position of President. Mr. Powell previously served as Vice President. Rick Fernandes, who has been with the firm since its founding, has been named Vice President. Jack Ringelberg will remain onboard as Chief Executive Officer and Bruce Banks, who founded JMS in 1988, remains Chairman.
Powell previously served as JMS Vice President and has over 20 years of experience providing naval architecture, marine engineering, marine surveying and marine casualty response services to a commercial and government client base representing all aspects of the maritime industry. Mr. Powell earned his degree in Naval Architecture from the University of California. He is a former US Navy Diving & Salvage Officer, Accredited Marine Surveyor with the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and a licensed captain. His background is a unique combination of formal engineering education, senior management experience, and vessel operations experience. He is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers [Vice Chairman of New England Section] and the American Society of Naval Engineers [past Chairman of Southern New England section and Regional Councilmember]. Fernandes has served as JMS Creative Director since 1995 and has over 20 years experience in marine engineering, related technical visuals and manages JMS marketing, advertising and new business development. He also manages JMS' vessel computer modeling business offering sales and development of CargoMaxTM computerized shipboard vessel loading programs and HECSALVTM salvage engineering response services through JMS' ERnet program. As Creative Director of JMS' computer animation and visualizations projects he has contributed to 11 internationally broadcast documentary films for the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and the National Geographic Channel on the subject of historical marine disasters.