The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) installed John R. Ballard, Ph.D., as the new Academic Dean and Provost in a brief ceremony at the Academy yesterday. Dr. Ballard will serve as the chief academic officer and principal advisor to the Superintendent in all matters relating to the academic program and faculty. He will also co-chair the educational priority working group for the recently released USMMA Strategic Plan.