Washington, Sep 30 (IANS): An Indian American has been named chief of the education and training wing of US Maritime Administration (MARAD), a media report said.

Shashi Kumar, currently dean of US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, has been appointed the deputy associate administrator and national coordinator for maritime education and training of the Maritime Administration, newsindiatimes.com reported on Tuesday.

Kumar will assume his new role in October this year. He will lead MARAD's efforts to build a pipeline of future merchant mariners and working with state maritime academies to address the intersection between state and federal maritime education, including ship requirements, a US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) statement said.

"After serving at the US Merchant Marine Academy since January 2007 as the academic dean, and as interim superintendent three times, I am moving on to pursue other challenges," Kumar was quoted as saying.

The Maritime Administration is the agency within the US Department of Transportation dealing with waterborne transportation and its seamless integration with other segments of the transportation system, as well as maintaining the viability of the US merchant marine.

"His commitment to delivering a world-class education has been an inspiration to the Kings Point faculty, staff, Midshipmen and alumni who have had the opportunity to work with him," USMMA Superintendent Rear Admiral James A. Helis said.

Kumar has graduated from Indian Maritime Academy with a masters from the Maine Maritime Academy and a Ph.D from the University of Wales.