US FMC Names Usman Chief Information Officer
serve as director in all areas of information technology (IT) and as the primary IT technical advisor to the Managing Director.He assumes his new duties effective immediately.“Well functioning, publicly accessible, and secured information systems are vital to being able to meet the mission of a government agency in the 21st Century. Mr. Usman possesses skills and experience that permit him to be pivotal in driving the Commission’s IT initiatives and fostering continued growth in its technology. I welcome him to the Commission and am confident he will make many significant contributions to
GAO: Coast Guard Should Address Workforce Recruitment and Retention Challenges
The Coast Guard has struggled for years to recruit and retain a sufficient workforce. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the non-partisan, fact-based arm of the Congress, has published multiple reports related to the Coast Guard’s workforce including recruitment and retention challenges. Three of these reports published in 2022 and 2023 have resulted in 17 GAO recommendations to address these issues, but as of today, 16 remain open and need to be addressed. Implementing these recommendations is key to the Coast Guard’s ability to recruit and retain the personnel necessary
VideoRay Hires Wirstrom as Business Development VP
will focus on VideoRay’s performance in its Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR) program of record for the U.S. Navy. The Navy has standardized on Mission Specialist Defender systems, and is gearing up to purchase them in higher quantities. Wirstrom will also work with VideoRay’s government and defense business team to continue to introduce Mission Specialist technology to navies around the world.Wirstrom retired from the U.S. Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer, having attained the rank of Captain. Over the course of his successful military career, he held significant
Crowley Names Karl SVP and GM of Wind Services
, Crowley also has partnered with other industry leaders to develop dedicated U.S. marine assets as well as support the workforce development needed. More than 44,000 jobs in offshore wind are expected to be needed to reach federal goals of 30 gigawatts in power capability by 2030, according to the U.S. government.Karl has a master’s degree in engineering and global operations management from Clarkson University, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
MTS Names Ostrander Executive Director
, and technical reports spanning marine biology, ocean physics, marine conservation, domestic policy, and operational analysis. Chris has extensive experience on the international stage—working across the Asia-Pacific region in partnership with APEC members, UN programs, and myriad foreign and US government agencies. He has served as a formal marine science advisor to state, territorial, and federal agencies, including as a founding member of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Advisory Committee. Chris received his undergraduate and graduate education from the United States
Sea Machines Promotes Bourque
Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and remote-helm control systems, has promoted Phil Bourque to the role of business development and sales director, U.S. Government, effective immediately.In his new position, Bourque will primarily focus on advancing the company’s government contracts and related special projects. Bourque has relocated to the Norfolk, Va. area for the role, a move that enables Sea Machines to establish a new company foothold closer to key government customers and its strategic partner Huntington Ingalls Industries.With more than 15 years’ experience
Hilburn Rejoins Crowley Solutions as VP, Business Development
Logistics executive Bleu Hilburn is returning to Crowley Solutions as vice president of business development for all government services. In this role, Hilburn will develop strategies to build a customer pipeline, qualify opportunities and manage all aspects of marketing, bid and capture management to drive growth and build deep relationships with government customers for Solutions.Hilburn, a 2015 Thomas Crowley Award winner, the company’s highest honor for employees, will start Aug. 31 and report to Shiju Zacharia, senior vice president and general manager, Crowley Solutions.Hilburn played a
PCCI Hires Carey as Chief Engineer
PCCI, Inc. announce that Todd Carey has joined the company as a chief engineer based in Ventura, Calif. He will be responsible for providing engineering, design, installation and program/project management services to U.S. government and commercial clients in the ocean facility and offshore energy industries.Carey is a Mechanical Engineer with experience supporting U.S. Navy, and upstream oil and gas clients on the U.S. West Coast. He has 18-years of experience in the analysis, design and installation of ship deployment systems, ocean facility installations, port security barriers, and submarine
Gulf Copper Hires Irelan
Ship repair and marine services firm Gulf Copper & Manufacturing has hired Robert “Bob” Irelan as Director, Federal Business Development.In his new role, Irelan will leverage his experience doing business with the federal government to head up Gulf Copper's government services business development, focusing primarily on the federal market. Ireland previously served as a Naval Officer for over 25 years, including the command of three different U.S. Navy vessels. He brings a broad experience of federal government contracting together with the Navy’s maintenance planning
HII Promotes Boudreaux
that has since been heralded as “a roadmap for other companies.”Before joining HII, he practiced law at Baker Botts LLP, where he established the law firm’s Global Security and Corporate Risk Counseling practice group. Prior to this, he held various high-ranking positions in the U.S. government to include serving as the deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and multiple leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Justice.Boudreaux earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University and a juris doctor degree from the University of Memphis School of Law
VT Halter Marine Taps Baczkowski as CEO
Systems in 2016 and was mostly recently Vice President of Business Development. Before that from 2013-2015, he was Chief Operating Officer of Angarai International Inc, a professional management consulting firm; and Senior Program Manager at Engility Corporation, a provider of integrated services for US government, where he had operational oversight and P&L responsibility.Baczkowski holds a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the US Naval Academy; and a Master of Science in Systems Management/Logi
Vard's Houston VP Lind to to Retire
Bill Lind, current vice president of Vard Marine’s Houston operations, has announced his plans to retire from the company at the end of June.Lind has led the Houston team since 2013 and has transformed the office into a key contender in the marine engineering industry in the Gulf Coast and in U.S. government programs. He was also instrumental in expanding Vard Marine’s clientele base and helping to mold the Houston office into what it is today.Moving forward, Vard Marine has announced that Darren Truelock, current Technical Operations Manager, will be the new vice president in the Houston office
Corpus Christi Gearing Up to Handle US Shale Export Boom
China and other oil buyers.The Port of Corpus Christi Commission is voting on a plan that would authorize it to raise the debt next month through underwriters led by Wells Fargo & Co, Citigroup Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co.The port is prepared to levy new user fees for the debt costs if the U.S. government does not reimburse it for spending the money to deepen and widen port facilities to accept larger ships, according to a port official. A decision to raise fees for dredging, which could begin as early as September, would be rare among U.S. Gulf Coast ports."We don't want to be the next
Austal USA Earns SCA Safety Award
working environment – one that attracts a superior workforce like the one we have here.” SCA members constitute the shipyard industrial base that builds, repairs, maintains and modernizes U.S. Navy ships and craft, U.S. Coast Guard vessels of all sizes, as well as vessels for other U.S. government agencies. The Council represents 41 companies that own and operate over 120 shipyards, with facilities on all three U.S. coasts, the Great Lakes, the inland waterways system, Alaska and Hawaii. Austal is currently under contract with the U.S. Navy to build 12 Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels
PCCI Appoints Grandelli as Chief Engineer
PCCI, Inc. has announced that Patrick Grandelli, P.E. has joined PCCI’s Alexandria office as a Chief Engineer. He will be responsible for providing engineering, design, installation and program/project management services to U.S. Government and commercial clients in the ocean facility and renewable energy industries. Grandelli is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) and naval energy/operations staff officer who also served on three U.S. navy warships. He has two decades’ experience in the analysis and design of large subsea pipelines, ocean energy systems, and the conduct of
Foxx Names New Members to Maritime Industry Advisory Panel
. Committee members serve 2-year terms, with no more than two consecutive term re¬appointments, and approximately one-third of members' terms of office expire every 2 years. The Department strives to select individuals with in-depth knowledge of their respective industries or government sectors. Members are nominated through a full and open process published in the Federal Register. The new members are: 1. Gary Adams, Vice President Global Logistics, Walmart Stores Inc. 2. Robert Berry, Vice President, International Shipbreaking Limited, LLC 3. Gary Brown
Landay Named SAFE Boats’ Board Director
appointed as a Director of the Board at SAFE Boats International. Vice Admiral Landay retired in 2013 after more than 35 years of naval service. His final assignment was as Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) from August 2010 until September 2013. DSCA oversees the U.S. Government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and is responsible for the sale of arms, defense technologies, training and other services to foreign governments. His sea tours included commanding officer of the USS Aquila (PHM 4) and commanding officer of the USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60). Ashore
