Expert Witness Biography
Kyle McAvoy (Captain, US Coast Guard Retired) is an expert in Marine Safety with over 26 years of experience in all aspects of ship inspections and marine incident investigations. He applies his expertise to forensic investigations involving the commercial and recreational use of our inland, coastal, and international waterways and shorelines. Kyle’s casework includes collisions and allisions, marine engineering failures, and industrial mishaps at landside maritime facilities.
Kyle’s distinguished career in the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety and Prevention programs included inspections of all types of commercial ships, the investigation of both major and minor maritime accidents, the review and approval of engineering proposals involving ship construction or modifications, and the development of national policies and procedures that will direct the Coast Guard into the coming decades. While Kyle investigated numerous casualties throughout his Coast Guard career, two of his most publicized investigations include the Athos I and the Lady Mary. The Cypriot tanker, Athos I, struck uncharted river bottom debris which led to a 265,000 gallon crude oil spill that shut down the Delaware River for several days in 2004. The Lady Mary was a scallop fishing boat that sank off the coast of New Jersey in 2009, costing the lives of 6 fishermen.
Kyle has several distinguished Coast Guard awards, including a Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, and a Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Gold Medal. He earned a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, as well as a Master of Engineering (ME) in Manufacturing, both from the University of Michigan. He also has a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mathematics. Kyle has been published in Coast Guard periodicals and presented in various forums on Coast Guard regulatory compliance issues. Kyle is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).