Thomas McKenney joins NAME faculty

Dr. Thomas McKenney will be joining the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department on Nov. 1, 2023 as an Associate Professor of Engineering Practice. Dr. McKenney’s experience involves cruise ship design & manufacturing, and low- & zero-carbon technologies for shipping. Both expand the academic possibilities (research, teaching, service) of our Department.

McKenney was previously Head of Ship Design at Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping in Copenhagen, a not-for-profit independent research and development (R&D) center with initial start-up funding of $100M. He is responsible for ship design activities within an active portfolio of over 50 R&D projects related to maritime sustainability and decarbonization including alternative fuel pathways and ship technologies. Before joining the Center in 2021, Thomas held various positions at Royal Caribbean Group including Senior Manager, Technical Projects & Newbuild Development where he was technical and project manager of $1 billion first-in-class cruise ship design and construction projects based in Miami, Florida, and Saint Nazaire, France. He holds four degrees from the University of Michigan including a Ph.D. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (2013) and two Master of Science in Engineering degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering (2012) and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (2010). He has also obtained an edX MicroMasters in Managing Technology & Innovation from RWTH Aachen University (2019).

 McKenney says, “This opportunity represents my commitment to advancing ship design theory and practices including addressing the urgent need to decarbonize the maritime industry.“