Dr. Kumar (PhD, University of Wales; MS, Maine Maritime Academy; Graduate, Indian Maritime Academy) joined the Academy in 2007 as the Asst. Superintendent for Academic Affairs (Academic Dean.) He is the founding Dean of the Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics at Maine Maritime Academy. Dr. Kumar has an unlimited Master Mariner (UK) certificate of competency and sailed extensively for a decade prior to entering academe. His areas of teaching and research include Maritime Economics and Policies, International Shipping, and Maritime Logistics. He is a founding member of the International Association of Maritime Economists and the International Association of Maritime Universities, and is also affiliated with the Academy of International Business, American Society of Transportation and Logistics, and the Institute for Supply Management (NAPM/ISM).

Dean Kumar’s significant accomplishments include the Transport Review's first prize for new PhDs in transportation, an award for excellence in teaching, a Sam M. Walton Fellowship (in free enterprise education, 1998-present) as well as the 1997 Maine International Innovator of the Year Award.  He is a frequent speaker in key industry events in the U.S. and overseas.  Dr. Kumar has published extensively and authors an annual review of the Merchant Marine for the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings.  He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Maritime Economics and Logistics and the IAMU Journal.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Maine International Trade Center and the Maine Department of Transportation Freight Advisory Board. 

Dean Kumar served as a faculty member at Maine Maritime Academy from 1987 - 2007. He has held visiting professor appointments at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India, Memorial University in St. John’s, NF, Canada, the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden, Shanghai Maritime University in Shanghai, China and the Pontifical Catholic University in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Dean Kumar will reside at the Academy with his wife Beena and daughters Kavya and Kamla.