Maria Burns, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Coordinator of the Technology Leadership and Innovation Management Program
Training Manager of the Leadership, Budgeting, and Finance Program
Office Brazos Hall Building, Office 335,
14004 University Boulevard,
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone 713-743-1194
Fax 713-743-4032
Email mburns [at] central.uh.edu
Education
- Ph.D., Political Science, University of Houston
- M.A. Political Science, University of Houston
- M.Sc., International Trade & Transport, Maritime Department, Faculty of Business, London Metropolitan University, England
Other Appointments
- Member, UH Faculty Senate (Research & Scholarship Committee)
- Safety & Security Advisory Committee, University of Houston (2021-2024)
- Director of Education & Workforce Development for the Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute (BTI), a DHS Center of Excellence.
- Director of the Executive Leadership, Budgeting and Finance Programs - University of Houston (uh.edu)
Certification & Licensure
- Certified Lead Auditor for Maritime Security (The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code - ISPS), American Bureau of Shipping, 2010.
- Certified Lead Auditor for Maritime Safety (The International safety management code for operation of ships and for pollution prevention - ISM), American Bureau of Shipping, 2010.
- Certified Lead Auditor for Environmental Management (ISO14001), American Bureau of Shipping, 2010.
- Certified Auditor for Quality Management (ISO9001) , American Bureau of Shipping, 2010.
- Certified Lifeguard, European Lifeguard Academy.
Professional Experience
- Program Coordinator, Technology Leadership & Innovation Management Program
- Leadership, Finance, Management, Maritime, and Homeland Security Professor
- Director, Logistics and Transportation Policy Program (LTPP)
- Global Maritime Business, Operations & Security
- Homeland Security Training & Development
- Management Consultant
- Shipbroker & Contract Negotiator
Professional Service & Affiliations
- Member, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies - since 2012
- Member, American Economic Association
- Member, American Finance Association
- Member, American Political Science Association
- Member, National Criminal Justice Association
- Member, Southwestern Social Science Association
- Member, Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
Classes
- TLIM 4378 Senior Project (Practicum)
- TLIM 4397 Project Leadership
- TLIM 4371 Leading Change in the Workplace
- TLIM 3371 Budgeting and Financial Principles
- TLIM 3365 Team Leadership
- TLIM 3340 Organizational Leadership & Supervision
- TLIM 4397 Homeland Security
- TLIM 4397 Border Management
- TLIM 4397 Special Problems (various courses on Security)
- SCLT 4380 Quality Systems
- SCLT 3375 Maritime Operations
- SCLT 3376 Global Trade Intermediaries
- SCLT 3340 Geography for Global Supply Chain
- SCLT 3384 Logistics Tech and Processes
Training Coures taught at University of Houston
(Logistics & Transportation Policy Program 2014-2020)
- Advanced International Logistics Certificate: 12 modules 3 Certificates
- Advanced International Maritime Business Certificate 12 modules 3 Certificates
- BTI Homeland Security and Border Management Certificates: 8 Certificates
ACADEMIC/INDUSTRY CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
- Senior Consultant for Global Seaports, Energy & Maritime companies - American Bureau of Shipping.
- Certified Auditor for Security, Safety, Quality, and the Environment in global Energy and Maritime Corporations (Facilities & Shipboard).
- Awarded Course Developer for over 60 Academic & Training Manuals.
- 20 years of experience in leadership positions in maritime & energy: Strategy, Policy & Regulatory Compliance/HSQE Audits, Operations, Logistics, Data Science, Shipbroking, Ship Appraisals.
Research Interests
- Leadership & Innovation
- Critical Infrastructure & Homeland Security
- Global Economics
- Maritime & Energy
- Data Science, Risk Management, Policy Analysis
- Artificial Intelligence
- Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality
Grants
- PI: Burns, M. (Program Manager Clement) Strategic Trade Security Academy, U.S. State Department. 2023 $391,604.00.
- PI: Chris Bronk. Co-PIs: Burns, M. and Clement, K. Strategic Trade Security Academy, U.S. State Department, 2020-2022 $66,000.00.00.
- PI: Chris Bronk. Co-PIs: Burns, M. and Clement, K. Strategic Trade Security Academy, U.S. State Department, 2020-2022 $772,166.00.00.
- PI: Burns, M. 'Border Management / Cross Border Trade Course Curriculum Development' U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, BTI Center of Excellence: 2018-2020 $240,853.40. - PI: Burns, M. 'Evaluating and predicting the operational effectiveness of cargo security at ports of entry'. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, BTI Center of Excellence: 2016-2018 $280,000.00.
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security, BTI Center of Excellence: 2015-to date. Director of Education.
Awards & Honors
- 2023-to date: Chair of Faculty Governance. Cullen College of Engineering, Tech Division
- 2022-to date: Sponsoring Faculty & Co-Founder, New Student Organization: Technology Innovators & Leaders of Tomorrow (TILT)
- 2022-2023: Secretary of College of Technology Faculty
- Elected Faculty Senator for Research & Scholarship, University of Houston (2021-2024)
- 2020-Spring 2022: Member, FAR and Equity Task Force
- 2020-Spring 2022: Member, Anti-Racism Task Force
- Safety & Security Advisory Committee, University of Houston
- Excellence in Research Award letters, University of Houston’s Provost Office (2020 & 2015)
- Emergency Management Award (TEMAC), & Certificate of Excellence for organizing industry safety workshops in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
- US Coast Guard Auxiliary: Honorary Member, Lifetime Award, conferred to recognize her 'significant and notable service' to the U.S. Coast Guard Aux and its programs.
- National Academies Chair, Supply Chain Security Subcommittee, Washington DC
- Member, Board of Editors of the Journal of Transportation Security (Springer)
- Best Graduate Dissertation Award, Master of Science in International Trade & Transport from the London Metropolitan University, UK.
- Best Graduate Dissertation Award, Master of Science in International Trade & Transport from Taylor & Francis Publishers, UK.
- Reviewer, Journal of Environmental Management (Elsevier)
BOOK AWARDS
Her book 'Port Management and Operations' has obtained two distinctions by the global maritime community:
- Ranked #2 among the 'Top 8 Maritime & Port Management Books,' The Maritime Insight newspaper. (2018). https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-books/port-management-books/
- Ranked among the 'Top 3' among the 'Seven Books to Better Understand the Shipping Industry,' The Maritime Executive Journal. (2017). https://maritime-executive.com/blog/seven-books-to-better-understand-the-shipping-industry
Book Chapters:
- Chief Editor: Vickerman, R. (2021) International Encyclopedia of Transportation, Chapter by Burns M.: Safety and Security in Logistics. Elsevier, USA. 1st Edition, 7,136 Pages, May 2021. Editors: Vickerman, R., Noland, R., Ettema, D. et. al.
- Chief Editor: Vickerman, R.. (2021) International Encyclopedia of Transportation, Chapter by Burns M.: Port Management. Elsevier, USA. 1st Edition, 7,136 Pages, May 2021. Editors: Vickerman, R., Noland, R. Ettema, D. et.al.
- Chief Editor: Yoku Shawtaylor (2023) Book: Unauthorized Immigration, Border Security & Threats to the Homeland. Chapter by Burns M.: Border Management and the convergence of Trade and Immigration. Rowman Publications.
Books Authored:
Acclaimed textbooks adopted by global Universities:
- Burns M., Managing Energy Security: An all hazards approach to infrastructure. 1st Edition, 420 Pages, Published by Taylor & Francis / CRC Press, 2019.
- Burns M., Logistics and Transportation Security: A Strategic, Tactical and Operational Guide to Resilience. 1st Edition, 395 Pages, Published by Taylor & Francis / CRC Press, September 2015. (In Press)
- Burns M. Port Management & Operations. Published by Taylor & Francis / CRC Press, 1st Edition, 405 Pages, June 2014.
STCW Training Manuals Written — approved by the US Coast Guard / National Maritime Center:
- Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
- Advanced Chemical Tankers' Training
- Crisis Management & Human Behavior
- Crowd Management & Passenger Safety
- Marine Environmental Awareness, STCW 2012
- Tank Ship Familiarization & Dangerous Liquids
- Train the Trainer - STCW Part B
- First Aid, CPR & AED
- Personal Safety / Social Responsibilities (PSSR)
Conference Presentations:
- Burns M. (2022a) Economic impacts of infrastructure disruptions: a case study of Houston and Galveston ports and enclosed waterways. (*Ready for submission to the Journal of Transport Security)
- Burns M. (2022b) Transportation security: human trafficking victims’ fatalities in containerized shipments. (*Ready for submission to the Journal of Transport Security)
- Burns M. (2022c) Human trafficking in the U.S. a study on State Policy Analysis and Data Analytics. (*Ready for submission to State Politics & Policy Quarterly. Sage Journals)
- Burns M. (2021a) Policy Analysis, Taxonomy and Geospatial Diffusion. Modelling of Human Trafficking in the U.S. Southwestern Social Science Association. Annual Meeting, Paper, Conference Proceedings. April 2021.
- Burns M. (2021b) Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on Human Trafficking. A public safety and
sociopolitical analysis based on web-scraping and data analysis techniques. Southwestern Social
Science Association. Annual Meeting, Paper, Conference Proceedings. April 2021. - Burns M. (2021c) Human Trafficking in the U.S.: Policy Analysis of a Gender-biased, Age-Biased Crime. Southern Political Science Association. Annual Meeting, Paper, Conference Proceedings. January 2021.
- Burns, M. (2021d). A strategy for post-Covid-19. The imperative to reconfigure the supply chain. London, UK & Massachusetts, USA: Reuters & MIT University. (Technical Report) https://sheffi.mit.edu/sites/sheffi.mit.edu/files/2021-02/NA%20Petrochemical_Reuters.pdf
- Burns, M. (2019) Ports of the Future: Why Security is the Measure of Port Intelligence. The Journal of Ports and Terminals (PTI) Port Technology 2019 (89), 18
- Burns, M. (2019). Containerized cargo security. How supply chain vulnerabilities impact processing times at U.S. ports of entry. Journal of Transportation Security. 10.1007/s12198-019-0200-1.
- Burns, M. (2018). Participatory Operational & Security Assessment on homeland security risks: an empirical research method for improving security beyond the borders through public/private partnerships. Journal of Transportation Security. 11. 10.1007/s12198-018-0193-1.
- Burns, M. (2017). The Paradox of Energy Security. National Academies, AASHTO, SCOTSEM, SCOHT, TRB, Washington DC, Conference.
- Burns, M. (2014a) Assessing the Vulnerability Risks at major seaports: a comparative analysis between the major Ports of the US Gulf, Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (Conference Proceedings).
- Burns M. and Merryman, S. (2014b) Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment of the Ballast Water Treatment Management Regulations, International Association of Maritime Economists, Annual Conference, Norfolk VA, June 2014. Maritime Economics and Logistics, IAME Conference.
- Burns M. (2014c) Ensuring Optimum Resilience in Marine Transportation: Extended Applications of the Maritime Security Risk Analysis Model and the Dynamic Risk Management Model. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington DC (Conference Proceedings).
- Burns M. (2014d) Supply Chain Security: A Strategy to Resilience through Policies, Partnerships, and Technologies. DHS Workshop for Supply Chain Security. Houston – April 23, 2014
- Burns M., (2014e) Security in Intermodal and Marine Transportation: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis, TRB of the National Academies, Washington D.C., January 2014.
- Burns M., (2014f) A Texas Tale of Logistics and Transport in the Land “Where 17 Railroads Meet the Sea”. Houston History Magazine. https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/The-History-of-Logistics-by-Maria-Burns.pdf
- Burns M. (2013a) The economic impact of Supply Chain Security : Financial tradeoffs between Supply Chain Security and Efficiency, Journal of Transportation Security; DOI:10.1007/s12198-013-0119-x, 2013a.
- Burns M., (2013c) Effectiveness Evaluation of the Maritime Security Risk Analysis Model and the Dynamic Risk Management Model. National Academies, Washington DC, (Conference Proceedings), January 2013.
- Burns M., (2013b) Supply Chain Security : Financial tradeoffs between Supply Chain Security and Efficiency, National Academies, Washington DC (Conference Proceedings), Washington DC, January 2013.
- Burns M., (2013d) Environmental Vulnerability and Economic Growth: Assessing the Offshore Drilling and Seaports Activities in the US Gulf”, Deep Offshore Technology (DOT) International Conference, Houston-Texas, October 2013.
- Burns, M. (2013e) Maritime Economic & Transportation Outlook: A New Era Ahead. Breakbulk Americas” – Executive Presentation, New Orleans, September 2013.
Press and Media Mentions (*selected)
- Reuters News: "Vessels will avoid areas lacking cleaner maritime fuel"
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shipping-imo-2020-fueloil-idUSKBN1XV01U - NASDAQ Stock Exchange "Vessels will avoid areas lacking cleaner maritime fuel,"
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/vessels-will-avoid-areas-lacking-cleaner-maritime-fuel-panel-2019-11-20 - CW39 Houston TV. "Hyperloop coming to Texas but not necessarily Houston"
https://cw39.com/cw39/inside-story-hyperloop-coming-to-texas-but-not-necessarily-houston/ - Houstonia Magazine "Elon Musk’s Latest Project Could Come to Houston"
https://www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-city-life/2018/01/elon-musk-hyperloop-houston-texas - Safety4Sea "Potential low sulphur fuel shortages may appear in some ports"
https://safety4sea.com/potential-low-sulphur-fuel-shortages-may-appear-in-some-ports/ - Ship & Bunker News "Shortages of Compliant Fuel in Some Ports, Conference Hears"
https://shipandbunker.com/news/am/974482-shortages-of-compliant-fuel-in-some-ports-conferencehears - Yahoo Finance "Vessels will avoid areas lacking cleaner maritime fuel"
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vessels-avoid-areas-lacking-cleaner-001949652.html - Radio Interview: Port Of Houston Says It’s Ready For Business From An Expanded Panama Canal
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2016/06/22/157865/port-of-houston-says-itsready-for-business-from-an-expanded-panama-canal/ - Marketplace: Houston Spends Millions to Woo Post-Panamax Ships
- Houston Public Media: No Long-Term Economic Impact Expected From Houston Ship Channel Closure