Tom Fry Announces Retirement from the National Ocean Industries Association

For Immediate Release:                                                  Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Friday, October 9, 2009                                                                           (202) 347-6900

Tom Fry Announces Retirement from the National Ocean Industries Association

 WASHINGTON – Tom Fry has announced he will retire as the President of the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) in early 2010. Randall Luthi was named as his successor by the NOIA Board of Directors today at the association’s Fall Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

“It has been my great privilege to represent the interests of the offshore energy industry over the past decade,” said Fry, who has served as NOIA President since December, 2000. “I thank the membership and the staff for making my job at NOIA rewarding, enjoyable and memorable.”

“Tom has been a highly positive, diplomatic and effective advocate for the offshore energy industry, and has assembled an impressive and skilled staff,” said T. Jay Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oceaneering International, Inc. and the current NOIA Chairman. “On behalf of the membership, I wish Tom all the best in his retirement and thank him wholeheartedly for his outstanding service to the membership in pursuit of public policies that support offshore energy security for America.”

Fry’s experience in leading two federal energy regulatory agencies made for a natural fit at NOIA, which advocates for the offshore energy industry.  Not only did Fry serve as the Director of the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Lands Management, he also earlier served at the Department as the Director of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), where he was responsible for regulatory oversight of the exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and other minerals on the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf.

Randall Luthi also brings with him a background in federal service with DOI, most recently as the Director of MMS.  Prior to that he was Deputy Director of the Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Luthi served as an attorney in the Department’s Office of the Solicitor and in the Office of General Counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

“As the Director of MMS, I had to make some tough decisions regarding the expansion of domestic offshore energy supplies,” said Luthi.  “As NOIA President, I look forward to working with the Administration, Congress, and NOIA membership in advocating for increased offshore access and domestic production as well as fair, economically sensible and environmentally responsible policies for the offshore energy industry that ultimately benefit American energy consumers.”

Outside of DOI, Luthi was Wyoming Speaker of the House and a Wyoming State Representative for over a decade.  He also worked as an environmental law consultant and as a legislative assistant to Senator Alan K.  Simpson. Luthi is currently a partner in the law firm of Luthi & Voyles,LLC in Thayne, Wyoming.

Fry will likely turn over his position to Luthi in March of 2010. 

NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  The NOIA membership comprises more than 300 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance.

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