Castine, Maine, native Capt. Timothy Leach, current
director of career services and cadet shipping at Maine Maritime Academy, has
been appointed to serve on the Towing and Safety Advisory Committee by the
Department of Homeland Security.
The Towing Safety Advisory Committee was
created to serve as a deliberative body to advise the Secretary of
Transportation, via the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to
shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is the
ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wrote to DHS
recommending Leach for the position.
“Tim’s extensive background and experience in
the maritime industry will be invaluable for the Towing Safety Advisory
Committee,” Collins says in a press statement. “I was delighted to recommend
Tim to the committee, and I know he looks forward to working with the
Department of Homeland Security as it develops ideas and recommendations
regarding navigational and towing safety issues.”
“I have been involved with training countless
numbers of graduates from Maine Maritime Academy for the last 30 years,” Leach
says. “I know that highly trained people coming from the maritime academies
have had a positive impact on vessel design, operation and safety. I am looking
forward to taking part in the important work that TSAC is involved with and I
think I will bring a unique prospective to the board as the result of my
maritime training background.”
Leach has more than 30 years experience
working at MMA as an adjunct faculty member. He has taught classes for the engineering
department including diesel technology, and engineering systems and design; and
for the marine transportation department, including shiphandling, workboat
operations, and tug and barge operations. He also played an integral role in
developing the nation’s first tug/barge training program.
Leach holds an associate of science in marine
engineering degree from Southern Maine Technical College, a bachelor of science
degree in small vessel operations from Maine Maritime Academy, and a master of
science degree in maritime management from Maine Maritime Academy’s Loeb-Sullivan
School of Business.
He lives in Castine with his wife Gay and has
two sons, Bret, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, and Christopher, a student at the
Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point.