Frosty Leonard Promoted to Director of Operations in Valdez
(Anchorage, Alaska; Feb. 2, 2004) – Effective March 1, 2004, Nathaniel F. “Frosty” Leonard will assume the position of director of operations in Valdez, Alaska. In his new position, Leonard is responsible for all of Crowley’s marine activities in support of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) in Alaska. In this new position, Leonard will remain domiciled in Valdez and will report directly to Rob Grune, vice president and general manager, ship assist and escort.
Leonard has been employed by Crowley since graduating from Maine Maritime Academy as deck officer in 1983. Throughout his 21 years, he has held positions of increasing responsibility within the company, including senior port captain of harbor services and outside towing in Jacksonville Fla., and Seattle, Wash., as well as his most recent position as operations manager in Valdez where he has been responsible for the operational management, training and security of the ship assist and escort fleet chartered to Alyeska Pipeline Services.
In addition to the bachelor’s degree in nautical science form Maine Maritime Academy, Leonard holds a USCG 3rd Mate of Steam or Motor Vessels of Any Gross Tons and Master of Towing Vessels Upon Oceans. He has served as president of the Northwest Towboat Association and is currently on the Board of Visitors Maine Maritime Academy, Board of Directors of the Valdez Regional Hospital, Industrial Technology Advisory Committee for Prince William Sound Community College and the Prince William Sound Maritime Security Committee.
“We are pleased to have Frosty expand his role within our Valdez team,” Grune said. “While this is a new position for him it isnt a new venture. He has been an integral part of the Crowley/Alyeska team for years and he played a key role in the development and deployment of the advanced tractor tugs that we currently operate in Valdez today.”
Crowley owns and operates one of the most advanced fleets of ship assist and escort tugs in the world. Harbor towing services in San Diego and Los Angeles, Calif., as well as Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., consist of escort and docking services for tankers, container ships and other vessels as they enter and depart from the harbors. Tugs in Valdez, Alaska, and North Puget Sound assist large tankers and provide both tethered and untethered escort services. Crowley tugs based in these areas are outfitted for firefighting services, and barges based in Valdez also provide oil spill response services.
With this promotion also comes the promotion of Walt Tague from port captain in Valdez to Leonard’s former position of operations manager, Valdez.
Oakland-based Crowley Maritime Corp., founded in 1892, is primarily a family- and employee-owned company engaged in worldwide logistics, liner services, contract towing and transportation, energy support services, ship assist and escort services, vessel management and petroleum and chemical marine transport. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.
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