Oceantic Network today announced leadership positions and five new members to its Board of Directors.
Joe Tirone, energy partner at Jones Walker, is the board’s new chairman, while Seaway 7’s business development manager for US renewables Zach Skelton takes up the post of secretary.
Chief operating officer at Kraken Robotics Nat Spencer will continue to serve as treasurer.
The new board members hail from bp, Burns & McDonnell, Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), RWE, and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC).
One of the new members is head of the east at RWE offshore Amanda Lefton (pictured).
She was previously head of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which she led from 2021 to 2023.
Under Lefton’s leadership, BOEM issued environmental approval to the first two commercial-scale offshore wind projects in the United States, conducted three offshore wind lease auctions, and advanced four others, among other achievements.
She is now leading development of RWE’s offshore wind projects from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast.
Meanwhile new board member Mark Benacquisto is executive director of millwright/piledriver labour management at the UBC.
He spent his career working in a variety of leadership roles within the construction industry.
Michael Braid is vice president of renewables at Edison Chouest Offshore and joins the board with more than 18 years of experience supporting offshore wind projects.
Braid leads the renewable energy division at ECO and has been instrumental in ECO’s transition to supporting offshore wind projects with Jones Act-compliant vessels.
Burns & McDonnell senior managing director Kent Herzog also joins the board, bringing more than 20 years of experience of working in the electric utility industry.
Another new recruit to the board is president of offshore wind Americas at bp Joshua Weinstein.
At bp, he leads the company’s development and execution of the Beacon Wind project.
He has more than 18 years of offshore wind and power industry experience.
The new additions to the board join current members from ABS, DEME Offshore, Dominion Energy, Nexans, and others.
Chief executive officer of Oceantic Network Liz Burdock said: “These new board members will provide invaluable expertise and new perspectives as Oceantic enters 2025.
“As we develop offshore energy that is critical to meet rising US energy demands, our board members… are well-experienced offshore wind developers, oil and gas developers, and vessel owner/operators who will advance the US offshore wind and offshore renewables industries.
“Oceantic Network is better positioned than ever to help this American industry deliver reliable and affordable energy that will stimulate the economy, create steady jobs, and support our country’s energy security.”