Pepperdine University News

Longtime mariner and investigator Morgan Turrell has been named director of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Office of Marine Safety effective March 1.The office investigates major marine accidents within the United States and its territories, as well as accidents involving U.S.-flagged vessels worldwide.Turrell began his career at the NTSB in 2003 as a nautical operations investigator. From 2007 to 2010 he served as Vice President of Marine Investigations for Princess Cruises, where he investigated casualties aboard ships worldwide.

U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today a number of changes across its leadership team. HII’s Board of Directors has elected Christopher D. Kastner to succeed Barbara A. Niland as the company’s chief financial officer and corporate vice president, business management, effective with Niland’s retirement on March 1, 2016. Furthermore Philip Luna, corporate vice president and president, UniversalPegasus International (UPI), a subsidiary of HII, has been promoted to the HII senior executive team, effective immediately.

Dometic Marine, a division of Dometic Group, a global provider of leisure products for the marine, recreational vehicle, commercial and passenger vehicle markets, announced that it has appointed Joe Pinto as National Account Manager - Reverse Osmosis Systems. In his new role, Pinto will lead Dometic’s Aftermarket and OEM sales teams as they expand the company’s presence in the fresh water and sea water reverse osmosis systems marketplace. In January 2014, Dometic Marine formally announced an exclusive worldwide agreement with Spot Zero Reverse Osmosis Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to market and sell its Spot Zero Fresh Water Reverse Osmosis systems and its Sea Xchange Sea Water Reverse Osmosis systems.

Hawaiian Ocean Transport (HOT) say it has strengthened its core management team by hiring Julian Velez as its new business development manager. The company inform that as the new development manager, julian Velez will bring new perspectives and extensive knowledge from his 7 years of experience as a leader in the transportation industry. Prior to joining Hawaiian Ocean Transport, Inc. Velez most recently held the position of Solutions Specialist & Sales Manager for Old Dominion Freight Line.

Hawaiian Ocean Transport, Inc. has strengthened its core management team by hiring Julian Velez as the new business development manager. As the new development manager, Velez will bring new perspectives and extensive knowledge from his seven years of experience as a leader in the transportation industry. Prior to joining Hawaiian Ocean Transport, Inc. Velez most recently held the position of Solutions Specialist & Sales Manager for Old Dominion Freight Line. Velez is a Southern California native and attended both Pepperdine University and California State University Los Angeles, receiving a degree in Business Administration. Velez brings a wealth of knowledge in generating profitable revenue growth…

Willard Marine, a 56-year-old builder of composite and aluminum boats, announced the appointment of Taylor Hunter as director of sales. Hunter, an experienced senior-level sales executive, will assume overall responsibility for the company’s sales in the U.S. and internationally. He will be based in Willard Marine’s corporate offices in Anaheim, Calif. Hunter has held senior sales and management positions with Karl Storz Industrial America, Eagle Pacific Powerboats, Your Office Agent, Channel Vision Technology, iLeads.com and Olympus America.

General Dynamics announced that Thomas W. Kirchmaier has been elected a vice president of the corporation and appointed as president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, reporting to David K. Heebner, executive vice president of the company's Information Systems and Technology group. Kirchmaier succeeds Lewis F. Von Thaer, who resigned in April. The appointment is effective immediately. Kirchmaier, has been the senior vice president and general manager of the Intelligence Solutions division of General Dynamics Information Technology since 2007, leading a worldwide organization with more than 4,600 professionals which provides high-technology solutions for the U.S. intelligence community, selected DoD commands and agencies, their coalition partners and NATO.

Huntington Ingalls Industries appoints Christopher D. Kastner Corporate Vice President & General Manager, Corporate Development. Kastner previously served as vice president and chief financial officer for HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division. Prior to the HII spin from Northrop Grumman Corp., he served as vice president, business management, and CFO for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Gulf Coast and vice president, contracts and risk management, for Northrop Grumman Ship Systems.

Chris Dugan has been promoted to manager, Oil Transportation for Crowley Marine Services in Seattle. Dugan began his career with Crowley in early 1997 as manager of Customer Service in Long Beach, Calif., in the company's Harbor Services business unit. He was later promoted to the position of sales manager in the Bulk Petroleum business unit in Seattle. Dugan holds a bachelors degree in Marine Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Metropolitan Stevedore Co., West Coast general and bulk cargo contract stevedore and terminal operating company, recently announced the appointments of vice president and chief financial officer John R. Hampton and controller Phillip Poggi. Hampton, who holds an MBA from Pepperdine University, began his career with Metropolitan 1993 as its maintenance manager. In his new position, Hampton will be in charge of all the company’s financial reporting, including its subsidiaries Pacific Warehouse Company, Metro Risk Management LLC, Destination Pier 35, Trona Export Terminals, LLC ( a joint venture), and will oversee Metro’s human resources. Hampton will report directly to President and CEO James Callahan.

Corporation has named Christopher D. Kastner as vice president, contracts and risk management for the company's Ship Systems sector. acquisitions and divestitures. in Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems Sector. University.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the appointment of Larry D. Francois as President of Seabulk Offshore, the Company's offshore marine services subsidiary, effective immediately. Mr. Francois, who most recently served as Area Manager of domestic offshore marine operations for Tidewater Inc., will also become a corporate Senior Vice President, reporting directly to Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Gerhard E. Kurz. In his new positions, Mr. Francois will have executive responsibility for the Company's worldwide offshore operations. "We are pleased to welcome Larry to the Seabulk management team," commented Mr. Kurz. "He is a well-known figure within the maritime industry and has extensive experience in all phases of the offshore business, both domestic and international.

Jeppesen has launched a marine business unit and announced leadership appointments, both for the recreational and commercial marine market segments. Michael Neal has assumed the position of director, marine business development. segments, including the commercial marine segment. Responsibilities also include longterm strategy development, new product research, mergers, acquisitions and more. recreational marine operations. long-term growth within this market segment. responsible for Nobletec’s sales and marketing efforts. He is an avid recreational boater. and knowledge in all facets of international blue water shipping operations. served in executive level positions within the financial and investment banking industries. market. Harvard University.