Meritorious Public Service News

The US Coast Guard presented public service awards to maritime partners for their actions during the Golden Ray capsizing and subsequent response during a ceremony at the Southeast Georgia Conference Center.The public service awards recognized each individual’s commendable actions that resulted in the preservation of life and mitigation of environmental hazards and economic impacts during the Golden Ray capsizing and grounding in St. Simon's Sound, Georgia, on Sept. 8, 2019.Rear Adm. Douglas Schofield, commander, Coast Guard Seventh District, and U.S.

Jennifer A. Carpenter serves as President & CEO of The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association representing the inland and coastal tugboat, towboat and barge industry. Carpenter joined AWO in August 1990 and became President & CEO in January 2020. Before assuming her current position, she worked her way up the hawsepipe from Government Affairs Assistant to Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, holding a series of progressively responsible positions including Manager-Regulatory Issues…

Robert (Bob) Clyne, ABS Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary , was recognized with the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award for his distinguished accomplishments as a graduate who best exemplifies the finest tradition of Kings Point – Acta Non Verba – and lending honor and prestige to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. “Bob is most deserving of this recognition,” said ABS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher J. Wiernicki. Clyne began his career at ABS working in various positions from 1982 to 1988. Upon earning his law degree, he joined the firm of Hill Rivkins LLP where he practiced maritime law for 24 years and served as Co-Managing Partner from 2006 to 2012.

RADM David Callahan for the US Coast Guard (USCG) 8th District presented Meritorious Public Service Awards to two Houston Pilots - Captains Michael McGee and Michael Phiilips - for their bravery last September aboard the crippled and burning tanker AFRAMAX RIVER. The USCG ceremony highlighted the fifth annual meeting of the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee, announced Captain Robert M. Shearon, presiding officer -- Houston Pilots. Captain McGee and Captain Phillips were dispatched September 6 to the M/T AFRAMAX RIVER at Houston Fuel Oil Berth 3. Due to its large size, this massive tanker required two pilots. Capt. McGee was conning the…

The year 2015 has been a busy year for The American Waterways Operators, the national trade association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, and for the industry AWO is privileged to represent. It’s a dynamic time for a vital industry that constitutes the largest segment of the U.S. domestic fleet, as companies throughout the industry are investing heavily to meet evolving customer needs; the industry stands on the verge of historic regulatory change; and AWO pursues an active public policy agenda to support members’ needs for predictable and practicable government policy.

Captain Steve Palmer, Vice-President Moran Shipping Agencies, receives USCG's Meritorious Public Service award. Making the presentation on behalf of the Commandant, Rear Admiral D. "The Commandant takes great pleasure in presenting the U. S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to Captain Steve Palmer, Vice president and Quality Manager for Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. for meritorious public service to the Coast Guard from November 1998 to April 2013. As a highly…

Robert J. Flynn Elected Chairman of the Board. ADM Thad Allen and Clay Maitland among an impressive slate of of 11 others. The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that in accordance with its bylaws, a new slate of officers has been elected to serve on the Board of Trustees, beginning January 1, 2012. Robert J. Flynn was elected Chairman of the Board at the organization’s annual meeting in the fall. Joining Mr. Flynn as officers are Al J. Bernard, vice chairman; William E.

Coast Guard officials announced Friday that the first Sentinel-class cutter will bear the name Bernard C. Webber in honor of the legendary Coast Guard member. Previously designated to be named the Coast Guard Cutter Sentinel, the cutter Bernard C. Webber will be the first of the service’s new 153-ft patrol cutters. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen approved the change of the cutter’s name to allow this class of vessels to be named after outstanding enlisted members who demonstrated exceptional heroism in the line of duty.

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, and a partner of the National Coast Guard Museum Association, announced the appointment of Jerry Ostermiller as the president of the National Coast Guard Museum. An accomplished museum administrator with over 25 years experience, Mr. Ostermiller will establish museum programming, develop internal infrastructure and lead capital campaign fund raising efforts for the construction of the country's newest national museum in New London, Connecticut. The United States Coast Guard is the only military service that does not currently have a national museum, which recounts the institution's history, service and missions. Mr.

Kent Kresa, Northrop Grumman Corporation's chairman of the board and CEO, is the recipient of the 2002 Navy League of the United States' Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award. This award was presented at the organization's Sea-Air-Space Exposition Banquet March 27 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Kresa, well known in the defense industry, received the Nimitz Award for his exceptional contribution to maintaining the United States' maritime strength. Kresa's career at Northrop Grumman began in 1975 as vice president and manager of the company's Research and Technology Center, developing new proprietary processes and products for the company.

Dr. Donald Liu, executive vice president and chief technology officer, ABS, has been awarded the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Meritorious Public Service Award in recognition of his contributions to marine safety. Rear Admiral Paul Pluta presented the award to Liu on behalf of the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard at this year's Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. It is the second highest public recognition award given to a civilian by the organization. "Dr. Liu's outstanding leadership and dedication to marine safety and environmental protection are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard," said Pluta.

Duramax Marine, a world leader in water-lubricated rubber bearings, recently broke ground on a new facility that will streamline the company's current manufacturing operations. The facility, with approximately 65,000 sq. ft. of factory and office space will consolidate production and administration into one centralized location in Troy Township, Ohio, approximately 40 miles south east of Cleveland. The expected grand opening will be the first quarter of 2001. Watson Coatings Inc. said that Gordon Watson, founder and CEO, retired on Nov. 2, 2000. Gordon founded Watson Coatings in 1987 with his wife Carol, and sons, Tom and Gary. Carol Watson will continue as Office Manager…

Vice Adm. James Hull, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Commander will present Mark Merchant the Meritorious Public Service Award on Monday, August 5, 2002. Merchant is recognized for his meritorious contributions to the Coast Guard following the attack on the World Trade Center and the Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team’s Anthrax response in Boca Raton, Fla. Merchant volunteered to assist the Coast Guard Information Office on-scene in New York when the Coast Guard’s port security response had piqued the media’s interest, making it the primary news story published and broadcast around the world. Merchant’s “real world” experience as a former…

William N. “Norb” Whitlock and Kenneth A. Wheeler received the prestigious National Rivers Hall of Fame Achievement Award at the Waterways Council, Inc. Annual Meeting in Houston on October 1. This award is the highest honor presented by the National Rivers Hall of Fame to those people who are making significant contributions to America’s waterways. The National Rivers Hall of Fame with members in 36 states is the national museum telling the stories of the people of America’s rivers. The Hall of Fame is a part of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. William “Norb”…

Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) honored its best and brightest at a ceremony held in early November. The college formally recognized alumni success and achievement, student academic success, and faculty achievement at its annual Celebration of Achievement on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006. Included among those recognized were three outstanding college alumni. All were inducted into the college’s Wall of Honor. Initiated in 1997, the college’s Wall of Honor was created to recognize alumni, who, through achievements in professional and civic life, have brought honor to themselves and to Maine Maritime Academy. Inductees are selected from nominations made at large by alumni and the public.

The Coast Guard will honor an internationally known historian with one of the highest honors the military service can award members of the public at a Coast Guard unit in Philadelphia on September 17 at 10:30 a.m. William D. Wilkinson, director emeritus of the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Va., and the founding director of the international Association for Rescue at Sea, will receive the Meritorious Public Service Award at Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Philadelphia. The award will be presented by Rear Adm. Kevin Eldridge, Assistant Commandant for Governmental and Public Affairs, on behalf of the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Adm. Thomas Collins. Wilkinson is being recognized for his decades of work supporting the Coast Guard’s history program.

Capt. Joseph Keiffer Jr.(center) is awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award by Rear Adm. Robert F. Duncan, Eighth Coast Guard District commander, Wednesday May 24, 2006 as Junior Rodriguez, St. Bernard Parish president, looks on at left. Keiffer, master of the towing vessel Black Beard, was recognized for his heroic efforts performed immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Keiffer and his crew successfully rescued and transported more than 2,000 flood victims from the city of Chalmette to Algiers Point, La. Through his cooperation and assistance, the Coast Guard and city officials were able to seamlessly coordinate the safe transit of these hurricane survivors.