Shashi Kumar News

Change of Command for Cal Maritime's Training Ship

After 10 years at the helm, Harry Bolton handed over command of the Training Ship Golden Bear Wednesday at California State University Maritime Academy.Bolton, a 1978 graduate of the Academy, returned to Cal Maritime on May 1, 2008 after a 30-year career with American Maritime Officers. Twenty of those years were with American Overseas Marine Corporation (AMSEA) aboard the original preposition ships based out of Guam, Saipan and Diego Garcia. Bolton began sailing as Master in 1985, only seven years after graduation.Dr.

USMMA Moves Up College Rankings

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) is America’s second best public regional college in the North and third best regional college according to the 2014 U.S. News and World Report rankings. USMMA has moved up the rankings from last year for undergraduate engineering programs in America, and is now ranked the 22nd best. “Our vision for the Academy is to be the world leader in maritime education,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Ph.D., superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The U. S. Merchant Marine Academy was the first federal service academy to admit women in 1974. The minority percentage of midshipmen has steadily risen each year. The Class of 2017 is 23 percent minority, compared with 14.4 percent in the Class of 2013.

Dr. Shashi Kumar

We had the privilege to pick the brain of Dr. Shashi Kumar (right) a Master Mariner, Fulbright Senior Specialist Fellow and Professor Emeritus of International Business and Logistics, for his take on a wide range of maritime matters near and far. A market boom starting in 2014? The long-term  effects of  Sequestration? A ‘cap’ on the size of ships? He covers it all. This maritime economy has been bad for a number of years. Put in perspective the downturn now vs. traditional downturns. That’s a very good question.

The Year in Review

The last 12 months has been one for the books ... or the trash. There was no shortage of government inducements to turn the lackluster tide in 2012—stimulus spending in China and Japan, quantitative easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve, and multiple actions by the European Central Bank to strengthen the Eurozone. But as the year evolved, weak macroeconomic fundamentals decisively trumped monetary policy initiatives and continued their choke on global commerce, hence the maritime sector.

“Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics”

Popularized by Mark Twain and generally credited to 19th-century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)*, the above line, which in its full form is “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics” is one of my favorites. This being our June 2013 “Yearbook” edition, a publication literally packed with – statistics – I will leave it up to you, the discriminating reader of our pages, to determine the veracity of the numbers reported within. I start with a sincere thanks to Dr.

USMMA Welcomes Incoming Class of 2016

274 plebe candidates take part in "Indoc Day" at the U.S. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy welcomes its incoming Class of 2016, consisting of 274 plebe candidates representing 47 states, the District of Columbia and the three foreign countries of South Korea, Malaysia and Panama. "The new plebe candidates make up one of the most diverse classes at the Academy," said Dr. Shashi Kumar, acting superintendent at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Upon arrival, the Congressionally-nominated future Midshipmen began a rigorous…

LaHood Announces USMMA Renovation Plan

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $54 Million for Merchant Marine Academy Campus Renovations, Next Step for Strategic Plan. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took part in a town hall meeting today with midshipmen, faculty and staff at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, to announce $54 million for additional campus construction and renovations. While at the Academy, he also announced the next step in the Academy’s strategic planning process, which will help prioritize improvements for the school’s long-term future. “The U.S.

DOT Unveils Plans for Kings Point

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) today began work on a comprehensive strategic plan that will develop long-term objectives and institutional goals. The USMMA will undergo its next accreditation evaluation in 2016 and a core requirement of American higher education accreditation is that an academic institution has a current strategic plan. “The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is one of my top priorities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The strategic planning process will be led by USMMA Acting Superintendent Shashi Kumar.

Kings Point Superintendent Resigns

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood accepted the resignation of Rear Admiral Allen Worley, Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., effective January 4, 2010. “The Merchant Marine Academy has gone through an important rebuilding year and is positioned for reaching the next level,” said Secretary LaHood. “We are confident the Academy is on course to continue as the premier institution in maritime education. Secretary LaHood noted that during the last year several steps were taken to upgrade processes at the Academy and to improve educational opportunities for Midshipmen, including cutting student fees in half…

Maine Maritime Academy Restructures Loeb-Sullivan School

Dr. Logistics has been restructured. graduate and undergraduate degrees in business. leader in its area of expertise. Accordingly, M.S. have been revisited to meet changing industry needs. the change, Barlow announced the appointment of Dr. school. completion of the master of science degree. programs in transportation and supply chain management. business law. reimbursement benefits. Business, and Maritime Management. business," said Kumar. technologies and requirements of global business. corporate clients and students in light of the dramatic effects of Sept.