Kenneth LeVan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology at California Maritime Academy. Prior to joining the Academy, Mr. LeVan retired from the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), having served on 23 of their contracted ships. More recently, he had a six-year stint as Chief Engineer on the Horizon Navigator operated by Horizon Lines, LLC. Before that he served a combined position as Chief Engineer, Breakout Engineer, Port Engineer for
the Horizon Fairbanks, a seasonal container ship running from Seattle to Alaska.
After graduating from California Maritime Academy, he took employment with Chevron Shipping, receiving advanced training in industrial machinery electronic control needed for operation of the company’s then new fleet of gas turbine tankers. He also served on the Board of Directors for several years. He moved to shipping through MEBA, feeding his love of international travel and cultural emersion with significant stays in Paris, London, Auckland, Taiwan, Mexico City, Hong Kong and Beijing.
He continued his education at the Calhoun School of Maine Engineering, learning about refrigeration, diesels, electronic troubleshooting, analog electronics, digital electronics, instrumentation, ship management, watch team management, hazardous materials management, emergency medicine, and advanced firefighting. He also completed a ship management course from the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS), a Masters, Mates and Pilots MM&P School. Mr. LeVan is currently working on a Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture with a minor in Fine Art Pictorial Illustration.
Mr. LeVan is an Eagle Scout, EPA-certified (Section 608 & 609) Universal HVAC technician, and currently holds an active United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Chief Engineer license for any tonnage steam, motor, and gas turbine (USCG officer’s license). He formerly held licenses as a California general building contractor and a real
estate agent.
