Chris B. McKesson, P.E., Ph.D.
Naval Architect and Marine Engineer – Unconventional Projects
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Dr. McKesson has thirty years experience, focusing primarily on unconventional projects and programs. He has held many positions of responsibility during his career as a Naval Architect, ranging from managing a small design bureau to representing the United States as technical expert to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He has represented the state-of-the-art in ship design to staff of the United States Congress, and he has represented his company before clients, and the clients before their customers.
Whereas in early days “unconventional projects” tended to mean an emphasis on speed, in recent years it has included unconventional propulsion systems, or an ‘unconventional’ emphasis on environmental stewardship. McKesson has completed several projects dealing with marine environmental issues, including a multi-year study of alternative fuels and alternative propulsion systems for the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (2000-2001), the design of a fuel-cell powered ferry also for the WTA (2001-2002), and the assessment of environmental impacts of a new ferry class for the Washington State Ferries (2004).
In recent years McKesson has chosen to focus more upon advising and consulting, and has centered this on his role as Subject Matter Expert for several clients. These clients include his former employer Alion Science and Technology, and also the well-known “think and do” tank the Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org) , and the Center for Commercial Deployment of Transportation Technologies (www.ccdott.org.) A major element in this new role is his position as an Instructor in Naval Architecture in the Master of Engineering program at the University of British Columbia. In addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in marine vehicle design, this position also gives him access to a large network of highly-qualified academic colleagues.
The combination of a love of the sea, an appreciation for and understanding of the needs of the seaman, and technical training as a naval architect gives him a unique balance of skills.
EDUCATION AND REGISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS, GRADUATE SCHOOL
New Orleans, Louisiana
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Engineering and Applied Science, 2013
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Master Of Science, Engineering 2010
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Bachelor Of The Science Of Engineering In Naval Architecture
And Marine Engineering (BSE (NA&ME)) 1979
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
(Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering),
State of Washington Department of Licensing.
Registration No 31936, 1994
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2008 – Present
Self-Employed
2014 – Present
Instructor – Naval Architecure
University of British Columbia, Faculty of Applied Science
Courses taught:
– MECH 328 “Introduction to Design”
– MECH 45x “Capstone Design Project”
– MECH 488 “Introduction to Ship Hydrodynamics”
– NAME 566 “Ship Dynamics & Control”
– NAME 578 “Introduction to Marine Engineering”
– NAME 591 “Ship Design Project”
2008 – 2014
Adjunct Instructor
University of New Orleans, School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Courses taught:
– NAME 4177 “Design of Advanced Marine Vehicles”
– NAME 4151 “Small Craft Design”
– NAME 3171 “Marine Design Methods”
2005 – 2007
Alion Science & Technology, Inc, formerly: John J. McMullen Associates, Inc.
Alexandria, VA
1997 – 2005
John J. McMullen Associates, Inc.
Silverdale, WA
1992 – 1997
Art Anderson Associates, Inc.
Bremerton, Washington
1991 – 1992
Chris B. McKesson – “Consulting in Naval Architecture”
San Diego, California
1984 – 1991
Naval Sea Systems Command
Arlington, VA
1989 – 1990
Service Technique des Constructions et Armes Navales
Paris, France.
1980 – 1984
John J. McMullen Associates, Inc.
Arlington, VA
MEMBERSHIPS
* San Diego Yacht Club (since 1976)
* Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, (since 1977, elected Fellow in 2015)
* Member of Technical and Research Panel SD-5 on Advanced Hull Forms
* Member of Technical and Research Panel O-36 on Transportation Economics
* Member of Technical and Research Panel SC-2 on Small Commercial Craft
* Royal Institution of Naval Architects (since 2000)
* Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering, Member (since 1998 – Lapsed 2006)
* American Society of Naval Engineers, Associate Member (since 1983 – Lapsed 2005)
PUBLICATIONS
For a list of Chris’s publications, see Publications.
DATE 8/20/2009