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People & Company News Spinrad Named NOAA Chief Scientist MTS President-elect Dr. Richard (Rick) Spinrad will be stepping down from his MTS position as he is named chief sci- entist of the National Oceanic and At- mospheric Administration (NOAA). President Barack Obama announced the appointment May 8, 2014. Dr. Spinrad’s appointment was announced among that of several others also nominated to key positions. President Obama said, “I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to join this administration and serve our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.” Dr. Spinrad will bring over 35 years ex- perience in marine science, policy and operations to his new position. Currently he serves as Vice President for research at Oregon State University. While serving as Technical Director for the Oceanogra- pher of the Navy, and leading NOAA’s National Ocean Service and Offi ce of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, he received recognition from the Secretary of the Navy, and Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for his efforts. Chet Morrison Names New Team Jerome Shaw has been named Vice Presi- dent of Marine Construction for Chet Morrison Contractors, LLC. Shaw’s ex- perience includes more than 20 years in the oilfi eld marine service lines where he built operational expertise in pipeline and diving operations, as well as marine fab- rication and construction. He previously served as HSEQ Director, where he suc- cessfully integrated individual safety rep- resentatives within each of the company’s business units. As Vice President of Ma- rine Construction, Shaw will be respon- sible for the strategic planning, manage- ment and operations of the division. He takes over for Brett Blanchard, who has been named to Chet Morrison Contrac- tors’ Board of Managers, where he will continue to provide vital leadership and experience. Replacing Jerome Shaw as HSEQ Direc- tor is Bo Ristic, who previously served as Executive HSEQ and Business Devel- opment Manager for Triton Diving Ser- vices. Ristic has more than 15 years ex- perience managing complex projects and developing HSEQ action plans. He began his career as a diver and has since gone on to manage complex special projects for major clients around the world. ASV Expands, Appoints Ashton Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASV) an- nounced its plans to break into the North American Unmanned Marine Systems industry, a move that comes as the result of success in the European and Asian markets where ASV has established itself as a leading Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) supplier. ASV will look to serve all areas of the U.S. USV market. ASV currently pro- vides unmanned systems to International Defense, Oil and Gas and Science and Research industries and has done so over the past three years. In 2014, ASV com- pleted a two phase Marine Target Drone program with South Korea, built and operated the world’s fi rst Unmanned Oil and Gas work boat and completed the commissioning of its Long Endurance Unmanned Marine Vehicle for Oceano- graphic research. To aid this transition into the U.S., ASV appointed Duane Ashton as Director of Unmanned Systems Business Develop- ment. Ashton will also work with ASV sister company C&C Technologies, Inc. Together, ASV and C&C are leveraging their respective successes in unmanned systems and global survey operations to forge the move into the U.S. Unmanned Systems market. Ashton recently transitioned from the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Sys- tems Program Offi ce, bringing with him more than 20 years of U.S. Government management experience involving the acquisition, design, operation and main- tenance of complex engineering systems. NOCs to partner the IMarEST The National Oceanography Center (NOC) announced a two-year partnership with the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMarEST), a partnership which will allow NOC to share its expertise and have input into the Institute’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Spinrad Ashton spearheads ASV U.S. growth Hall of NOC June 2014 46 MTR MTR #5 (34-49).indd 46 6/9/2014 10:47:40 AM
