University Of Kentucky News

It's a career-defining moment for 36 college and university faculty April 30, as the Department of the Navy announces the recipients of its 2015 Young Investigator Program, one of the oldest and most selective scientific research advancement programs in the country. Collectively, awardees will receive $18.8 million in grants to fund research across a range of naval-relevant science and technology areas. This is a banner year for the program, administered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), which increased funding by 50 percent over last year. "These recipients demonstrate the type of visionary, multidisciplinary thought that helps the U.S. Navy anticipate and adapt to a dynamic battlespace," said Dr. Larry Schuette, ONR's director of research.

The National Waterways Foundation (NWF) has commissioned and released a two-year, ground-breaking study by the University of Tennessee and the University of Kentucky, “Inland Navigation in the United States: An Evaluation of Economic Impacts and the Potential Effects of Infrastructure Investment” (November 2014). The study examines the waterways’ national economic return on investment and the need for and benefits of an accelerated program of waterways system improvements that sustain and create American jobs. The study evaluates the inland navigation system as it is currently funded and configured, and as it might be through renewed infrastructure investment.

The National Waterways Foundation (NWF) has commissioned and released a two-year study to examine the U.S. inland waterways’ national economic return on investment and the need for and benefits of an accelerated program of waterways system improvements that sustain and create American jobs. The study, conducted by the University of Tennessee and the University of Kentucky and entitled “Inland Navigation in the United States: An Evaluation of Economic Impacts and the Potential Effects of Infrastructure Investment” (November 2014)…

A recently released study entitled INLAND NAVIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES evaluates the economic impacts and the potential effects of infrastructure investment on our economy. The comprehensive, 98-page document was prepared by the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee in November 2014. Sponsored by the National Waterways Foundation (NWF), the voluminous text describes an effort that has spanned more than two years during which time the authors produced a conservative evaluation of commercial navigation’s system-wide economic impact…

J. H. Blades's new marine underwriting division will underwrite brown water exposures for specialty retail agents and brokers. Specific coverages will include hull and liability, protection and indemnity, builder’s risk, miscellaneous marine liability, vessel pollution, excess marine liability, bumbershoots and other related marine coverages. At the helm of the new venture is David Manion, who joins Blades Marine as Executive Vice President. Manion has spent more than 20 years in marine underwriting. He has extensive experience in the brown water exposure space as well as providing London specialty marine lines wholesale broker services. He holds a B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health from Murray State University in Kentucky.

Edoc Systems Group Ltd., developers of Helm Marine Operations software, announced that Ged O’Connell will be joining the company as its new Regional Sales Manager. O’Connell, formerly the North American Sales Manager with Jeppesen, a Boeing Company, will manage sales operations for Edoc in the Eastern USA. “We’re very pleased to bring Ged aboard,” said Bill Reid, President of Edoc. “His depth of experience on the inland and coastal waterways will be a boon to our expanding company.” O’Connell comes to Edoc with over 35 years of waterways experience…

Leigh Ann Hale has been named Assistant Vice President of Finance for Ingram Barge Company. Hale will oversee all of Ingram Barge Company’s tax administration and the accounts payable department. She joined Ingram Book Company as Director of Tax in 1997 and transferred to Ingram Barge Company January 2003. Prior to Ingram, Ms. Hale served as Senior Tax and Accounting Manager at Elliott, Baily and Amon, PSC, and as Senior Tax Manager at Purolator Products, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky and her Master’s degree in Taxation from the University of Tulsa.