American University News

The 11th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium: A Virtual Event Exploring All Too Real RisksThe past year has been as impactful for the world’s maritime transportation xystem as it has been for the rest of society. From the Suez Canal to the Arctic and beyond, human, technology and environmental events disrupted maritime activity. And the pandemic highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities in many ways, from mariners quarantined aboard vessels to port congestion due to COVID-driven surges in e-commerce.

The Coast Guard Foundation said Thomas A. Allegretti has been elected to the position of Chairman of the Board, effective January 7, 2021. Allegretti first joined the Coast Guard Foundation board in 2006 and has served on the Executive Committee and the Audit Committee. In 2020, he led the Foundation’s COVID Management plan.Most recently, Allegretti served as the Senior Executive Officer of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association for the domestic tugboat, towboat and barge industry.

Hepburn and Sons LLC team has welcomed CAPT Timothy Crone as its newest Director. CAPT Timothy Crone, USN (Ret) will serve as Hepburn’s Director, Advisory Services.CAPT Crone, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the US Naval Academy and completed a Master of Science in Justice, Law and Society from American University. He has also received a Master of Arts in National Security Policy and Strategic Studies from the U.S.

Mr. Jacques R. Saade, founding president of the CMA CGM Group, died on June 24, 2018 at the age of 81, according to the company. Jacques R. Saadé dedicated his life to CMA CGM. An extraordinary visionary and entrepreneur, he made the group into a world leader in the maritime transport of containers, developing the company in more than 160 countries, while maintaining the family dimension with its values. After having left Lebanon to protect his family for Civil War, Jacques R Saadé founded the Compagnie Maritime d’Affretement (CMA) 40 years ago…

On Thursday, December 22, the President of CMA CGM Corporate Foundation, Mrs. Naïla Saadé, handed over the 2016 Prize of the Corporate Foundation to Mrs. Nora Joumblatt, founder and president of the NGO “KAYANY” at CMA CGM head office in Beirut. Founded in 2013, the Lebanese NGO “KAYANY”, which means “my existence”, aims at providing schooling and psychosocial support to the most vulnerable Syrian children refugees in Lebanon. Since its inception, “Kayany” has been a key player in administering free and accessible schooling to over 3,000 boys and girls, aged between 6 and 14. These children had no access to education and were out of school for more than three years.

Executives from Colonial Pipeline, which runs the main fuel artery for the U.S. Atlantic Coast, will be questioned by customers and regulators on Wednesday after worsening congestion spawned secondary markets for space on the system, driving up costs for wholesale diesel and gasoline buyers. Refiners, retailers and trading houses have jockeyed to move barrels in an increasingly competitive race for space on the line since a 300,000 barrel per day expansion between 2011 and 2013 failed to ease traffic as shippers increased on the 2.5 million bpd system. Customers including Costco Wholesale Corp complain that so-called line space trading adds business costs, prompting a rare hearing at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. "We have very sophisticated customers.

Shipbuilder Fincantieri and the University of Rhode Island (URI), on behalf of its International Engineering Program (IEP), has signed an agreement establishing the beginning of mutual collaboration to develop academic and cultural interchange. The agreement, of an initial duration of three years with renewal possibility, will begin in the first half of 2017 and will be dedicated to both undergraduate and graduate students from URI. In particular, Fincantieri will consider the insertion of some of the most skilled students from the faculties of mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering of the American university, in an internship program to be held at its premises in Italy.

Former FMC counsel David Tubman has served in FMC Commissioner Doyle's office as counsel since 2013 at U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. After being cleared by the White House and U.S. Department of Transportation late last week, starting today (February 22, 2016), Mr. Tubman will be serving as Chief Counsel in U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). William Doyle, U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner, said in a statement, "David and I have been working together since the beginning of 2002. I know that David will succeed in his new role.

Egypt will open an expansion to the Suez Canal to great fanfare on Thursday, the centrepiece of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's plans to revitalise the country's economy after years of damaging political turmoil. Some analysts and economists say, however, that the mega-project may fail to meet the great expectations. The Suez extension was announced by Sisi a year ago and billed as a major national accomplishment on a par with President Gamal Abdel Nasser's nationalisation of the Suez Canal in 1956 and the building of the Aswan Dam.

Adams and Reese Adds Four to Bolster Federal Governmental Relations Practice. Adams and Reese is proud to announce the addition of Partner Matt Paxton and Governmental Affairs Advisors Joe Carnevale, Ian Bennitt and Ashley Godwin, who join our firm in our Washington DC Office from the law firm of Ball Janik LLP. “We are very excited about adding Matt, Joe, Ian and Ashley, to our Firm and our Federal Governmental Relations practice,” said B. Jeffrey Brooks, Adams and Reese Executive Committee Chairman and DC Office Partner in Charge.

President Mark D. Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., an in the field of deep-ocean exploration, has implemented its planned management transitions that were announced in August. Odyssey President Mark D. Gordon assumed the additional role of chief executive officer on October 1, 2014, succeeding Gregory P. Stemm, who had held the position since 2007. Stemm has become chairman of the board, succeeding Bradford B. Baker, who will continue to serve as lead director. Stemm, in his new role…

The Lebanese American University has awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters to Jacques R. Saadé, in recognition of his achievements as a great business leader. The conferment of the Honor took place during the commencement ceremony at the LAU Campus on Tuesday July 8th in front of 1500 people, including 500 students and members of the Government. In his acceptance speech, Jacques Saadé talked about his beginnings in the world of shipping. Perseverance, determination, and long-term vision, which have been his motto throughout his carrier should be an inspiration to the young graduates of today. Jacques R. Saadé concluded,"The strength of our group lies in its family business model. Our core values give the company its heart and soul. Jacques R.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) says that Hall brings maritime and piracy analytic experience to the association. For the past three and a half years, Hall was Senior Analyst with the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute (HSSAI), supporting DHS S&T, USCG Headquarters, USCG Atlantic Area, and the National Strike Force Coordination Center. CLIA adds that Hall specializes in maritime security. Prior to HSSAI, she was a research analyst in the Center for Naval Analyses' (CNA) Strategic Initiatives Group focusing on threats and issues pertaining to the global commons. While at CNA, she was the CNA field representative to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S.

Transas has completed a project to supply the navigational and GMDSS simulators to Girne American University (GAU), a high school in Northern Cyprus. The configuration includes two navigational bridges based on the latest Transas Navi-Trainer Professional (NTPRO) software. The main bridge with five projector visualization channels is equipped with reduced set of dedicated hardware controls. It will enable training in various shiphandling operations including bridge team management. Secondary bridge with one visualization channel will be used for familiarization and basic tasks.

Héctor Martínez has been appointed Commercial Director of SENER’s Marine Strategic Business Unit in Mexico in addition to his responsibility as Commercial Director of the Aerospace Strategic Business Unit in the same division. These are two business sectors with good growth prospects, in which SENER has operated for several years providing Engineering and Construction services. Born in Mexico, Héctor Martínez is an Electromechanical Engineer graduated from the Pan-American University…

Victoria D. Harker joins Huntington Ingalls Industries board of directors. She is currently the chief financial officer for Gannett, an international media and marketing solutions company, having recently joined the company on July 23. She previously served as CFO and president of global business services of the AES Corp., a multinational power company. "We are very pleased to welcome Victoria to the board of HII," said Thomas B. Fargo, chairman of the board. "Her corporate financial background…

Will the American University System Follow in the Wake of our Merchant Fleet? Everyone who came to America knew that the most reliable path to financial success and status was hard work and higher education. That formula even worked for those born here. The rush to higher education started in 1947 when the GI Bill sent millions of Americans to college. In fact, for years, almost half of all those entering college were veterans (note: Merchant Mariners were not included in that benefit.) Higher education was seen by the public as both affordable and valuable.

Fairfax, Virginia--The International Propeller Club of the Unites States has announced that R. Andrew Riester has been named Executive Vice President. After a period of transition alongside interim Executive Vice President John W. Angus, III, he will provide full-time staff leadership in the organization’s headquarters office in Fairfax, Virginia. “The executive committee of the International Propeller Club is very happy to welcome Andrew Riester aboard. His experience in the maritime industry and his association management background will be an asset to the important work of the Club…

•    Frances G. •    Terry D. •    Cherry A. The bipartisan Commission, established through an Executive Order, is tasked with providing recommendations on how we can prevent – and mitigate the impact of – any future spills that result from offshore drilling. The Council is co-chaired by former two-term Florida Governor and former U.S. Senator Bob Graham and former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly. Frances G. Frances Beinecke is currently the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a non-profit corporation that works to advance environmental policy in the United States and across the world. Ms. Beinecke has worked at NRDC for 35 years, serving as executive director, associate director and deputy executive director.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has named Karen Williams vice president and general manager of the Defense Technologies Division, one of four divisions within its Information Systems sector. The sector recently realigned its defense business to form the Defense Technologies Division, focused on end-to-end support systems and services for defense customers. Williams reports to Linda A. Mills, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

General Dynamics has named Cordis “Cork” Colburn, 57, as vice president – Government Relations. He succeeds G. Kent Bankus, 59, who has held that post since 1993; Bankus will retire at the end of May. Colburn joined General Dynamics in 1992 as a director of Government Relations, focusing on congressional issues relating to U.S. Army programs. He was promoted to staff vice president – Government Relations in 1996. Prior to joining the company, Colburn had served 24 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a colonel. He served the last four years of his Army career as the deputy chief of Army Legislative Liaison and chief of operations within the office of the Secretary of the Army.

The United States Coast Guard has named Frances Fragos-Townsend as its Director of Intelligence. In this position, Fragos-Townsend leads the service’s Intelligence Directorate, the Intelligence Coordination Center and act as program manager for the Coast Guard’s national intelligence effort. She is charged with enhancing inter-agency and maritime awareness in the war on terrorism. “The Coast Guard is widely respected by our intelligence, military and law enforcement partners for our multi-mission maritime capabilities,” said Fragos-Townsend. “Those partnerships and robust information sharing between agencies are key to our long term homeland security mission.” According to Fragos-Townsend…

Marine Petroleum Network Inc. (NYSE:ANW) announced that it has named George J. Konomos to its Board of Directors. With the appointment of Mr. Konomos, who will serve as Chairman of the Company's Audit Committee, Aegean will have a total of seven Directors, of which the majority remain independent. Mr. Konomos, 69, has approximately 35 years of financial experience. Currently, he is a Senior Advisor with Latigo Partners L.P., an alternative asset manager and serves on the Board of Directors for General Maritime Corporation. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Konomos was the Co-Portfolio Manager at Mellon-HBV Rediscovered Opportunities Fund. Mr. Konomos' experience prior to joining Mellon-HBV includes 11 years as an Investment Manager at Baker Nye Investments…