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2023 SPEAKER BIOS
These industry leaders presented on December 5-6, 2023.
CAPT Paul Amos
American Pilots’ Association
Paul was born and raised in Denton, Texas. In 1974 he permanently relocated to the Pacific Northwest where he was employed continuously in the tug and barge industry for 16 years. From 1980 to 1990 he worked as captain on towing vessels on the Columbia/Willamette/Snake River system. He has a wide range of experience on various types of towing vessels but the majority of those years were spent on grain barge tows between Portland, OR and Lewiston, ID. For the last 32 years, beginning in 1990, Paul has been a Columbia River Pilot. As a member of the Columbia River Pilots (COLRIP) he served two years as treasurer and was vice president in 1999. He was re-elected as vice president in 2006. Shortly afterwards he became president and has served continuously in that position since then. He was also deeply involved in developing COLRIP’s AIS-based navigation system and continues to work on improvements to that system. He is a past president of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, a past chairman of the Lower Columbia Region Harbor Safety Committee and has served on a variety of industry related boards and committees.
Paul is married to a sailor, Della, one of the first women to graduate from Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy. He has 3 adult children and lives in Vancouver, WA.
Jorge Arroyo
US Coast Guard
Jorge Arroyo has served in the US Coast Guard for more than 36 years. Previously, he served as a commissioned officer involved in recreational boating safety, search and rescue, vessel traffic management, polar icebreaking, ship and shore-side operations; and since 1999, he has served as a program and management analyst with the USCG’s Office of Navigation Systems, and subject matter expert on shipboard navigation systems. He also serves as a US delegate-advisor at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue Sub-committee, vice-chair of the eNavigation Committee of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, and, on the board of directors of the VHF Data Exchange Systems Alliance. He has participated in the development of numerous industry consensus navigation equipment standards, guidelines, and recommendations published by IMO, IALA, the International Electrotechnical Committee, and the Radio Technical Committee for Maritime Services, including all those related to automatic identification systems. He obtained a bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois, a juris doctor from DePaul University School of Law, and has navigated the seven oceans and made landfall on every continent.
CAPT Alain Arsenault
National Center of Expertise on Maritime Pilotage
Captain Alain Arseneault is an active St. Lawrence River pilot. He is a graduate of Rimouski’s Maritime Institute. After being issued a master mariner certificate in 1998, and sailing worldwide, he pursued postgraduate studies, being awarded an MBA in 2005. He entered the apprentice program on the St. Lawrence River in 2003 and was issued a pilot license in 2005. Within the mid St. Lawrence Pilots Corporation, he held various management positions and acted as president from 2017 to 2021.
Fascinated by innovation and new technologies, Captain Arseneault participated in several technical maritime committees within his group and ultimately lead the technical committee of his National Association (Canadian Maritime Pilots Association) in addition to being elected national vice-president for the Laurentian in 2017. Captain Arseneault now serves as executive director of the Canadian National Center of Expertise on Maritime Pilotage, and he is actively involved in several technology innovation forum as a participant and speaker. He is also active at the IMO level on the Canadian delegation and IMPA delegation.
Captain Arseneault serves on various boards. Among others, he presides on the board of directors of the St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO) and is the VP of the board of the eastern branch of the Canadian Marine Service Guild (CMSG).
CAPT Jeff Baken
Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association
Jeff Baken is a pilot with the Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association (SEAPA). He received a BS in nautical science and marine transportation from the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, a BA in earth science from the University of Montana, and an MS in geology from Montana State University. For the past 18 years he has been active training pilots and pilot-trainees in azipod and conventional shiphandling at the Maritime Pilots Institute (MPI), MITAGS West, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC). He has participated in, and administered, numerous ship simulator studies of cruise ship berth designs, as well as, the evaluation of wind and current limitations for Very Large Cruise Ships (VLCS) in Alaska. For the past 30 years he has been an active state pilot in SE Alaska. He lives in Juneau, Alaska with his wife Leslie.
Dr. Scott Beatty, PhD
MarineLabs
As founder and CEO of MarineLabs, Dr. Scott Beatty has a dream job at the nexus of ocean-enthusiast, technology developer, and coastal weather expert. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering, with a focus on ocean engineering from University of Victoria.
Over his 18 years in maritime technology as engineer, researcher and consultant he executed influential and highly cited work on wave energy, served as convener of the IEC committee on wave energy performance assessment, helped international governments invest more than 100M in marine tech, and regularly served as judge for US DOE WPTO Blue Economy prize competitions. Scott now leads MarineLabs as they operate and expand a continent-wide fleet of sensors fused with an expanding set of weather models and data sources.
Through CoastAware, MarineLabs has developed a path to coastal intelligence at scale.
Dennis Bomholt
Trelleborg Marine & Infrastructure
Dennis Bomholt plays a vital role in Trelleborg Marine & Infrastructure, overseeing hardware development and support for navigation and piloting solutions. Dennis began his journey with the company (then Marimatech) in 1995, focusing on the production and support of hydrographic products. Since the year 2000, he has been actively involved in the development of portable piloting solutions, accumulating a remarkable 26 years of experience in the realm of electronics and GNSS.
Dennis’ extensive expertise in electronics and GNSS provides a strong foundation for the development of innovative products in this field. Over the course of his career, he has gained practical and theoretical knowledge through on-site commissioning and system servicing.
Dennis holds an academic background as an electronic engineer, solidifying his credentials in this dynamic industry.
CAPT David Boudreaux
AET Inc Limited
After graduating from the California Maritime Academy, David Boudreaux began his sailing career with Military Sealift Command (MSC) where he worked his way through the ranks on fleet oilers and ammo ships, all the way to reach master. Leaving MSC in 2012, to spend more time with his family, he took a brief role as a fleet superintendent/DPA and then became a salvage master with Smit Salvage Americas. He enjoyed a thoroughly exciting two years working on various salvage projects across the globe all the way from the Bering Sea to Argentina and Italy.
At the end of 2014, David put his extensive ship handling skills to work as a mooring master for AET. For the next 8 years, he safely and successfully conducted more than 400 ship to ship lightering operations in various locations ranging from Brazil, Uruguay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the US Atlantic Coast. In 2022, he was asked to take a shore side position in Houston, Texas as the head of lightering where he currently manages all AET’s lightering operations across the US and Latin America.
David holds a bachelor of science degree in maritime transportation and logistics from California Maritime Academy.
George Burkley
Maritime Pilot’s Institute
Mr. George Burkley serves as the executive director of the Maritime Pilot’s Institute (MPI) in Covington, Louisiana and is a partner in LOCUS LLC. MPI specializes in training, research and technical projects for maritime pilots. The institute operates both electronic simulation and physical modelling training and research facilities.
George is a 1989 graduate of the California Maritime Academy and completed his master’s work at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He served as an aviator in the US Navy and sailed for Hawaiian Tug and Barge and Masters, Mates and Pilots as a ship’s officer.
Darrell Conner
K&L Gates
Darrell Conner is a government affairs counselor in the firm’s public policy and law practice group, one of the largest policy groups in the United States. As a government affairs counselor for K&L Gates, he has more than 30 years of experience working with Congress and the executive branch. Since 2017, he has been recognized by The Hill as one of the nation’s Top Lobbyists. Darrell is known for his experience in the maritime and fisheries sectors, where he combines his substantive knowledge of those areas with his understanding of policymaking in government and Congress to assist clients with achieving their goals. Darrell leads the Firm’s maritime policy practice and was previously a leader of the public policy and law practice group of K&L Gates.
Darrell’s practice focuses on federal government relations, where he represents clients on a range of matters, including:
- Domestic and international shipping (including military sealift);
- Port and maritime security;
- International trade;
- Fisheries and natural resources;
- Domestic energy policy;
- Transportation and infrastructure; and
- Federal appropriations and budget.
He also has extensive legislative experience in general public policy analysis and planning, strategic counseling, and coalition management and coordination. Darrell also assists clients in incorporating public policy into their strategic planning, integrating public relations into their legal and advocacy activities, and legislative drafting.
His principal representations include cargo and passenger vessel operators, a ship classification society, transportation product manufacturers and service providers, fishermen and other fishery stakeholders, and a leading coalition of U.S. maritime interests.
He has worked with the Department of Transportation (including the office of the Secretary, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the Maritime Administration), the Department of Commerce (specifically, the office of the Secretary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service), the Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard), and the Department of Defense (including U.S. Transportation Command).
Darrell is previously served as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Propeller Club of the United States, and is a past president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the International Propeller Club.
He served on the staff of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the U.S. House of Representatives under its ranking member, Congressman Bob Davis (R-MI).
Jon Dasler
David Evans and Associates
Jon L. Dasler is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) and Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) and is certified by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and The Hydrographic Society of America (THSOA) as a Certified Hydrographer (CH). Since 2001, he has been an active board member of the NSPS-THSOA Hydrographer Certification Board, for which he currently serves as chair.
Mr. Dasler’s professional experience spans more than 37 years of contract project management on hydrographic and surveying projects for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USACE, port authorities, and private sector firms. Mr. Dasler was involved in the earliest applications of shallow-water multibeam for the monitoring of coastal structures and the first application of Ellipsoid Reference Surveys for NOAA. Based on his expertise in hydrography, Mr. Dasler was handpicked by NOAA Administration to serve on a federal advisory committee. In this capacity, Mr. Dasler served seven years as a special government employee on NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel, which advised the NOAA Administrator on matters related to the nation’s hydrographic services and navigation safety information needs.
Mr. Dasler is currently the senior vice president and director of marine services at David Evans and Associates, Inc. where he has managed hydrographic projects since 1989 and consults with key clients on hydrographic operations and data enhancements for pilots.
Clayton L. (Clay) Diamond
American Pilots' Association
Clay Diamond is the executive director-general counsel for the American Pilots’ Association (APA). Prior to that, he served 13 years as APA’s deputy director-associate general counsel. A 1989 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, he also earned a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a juris doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. During law school, he earned the award for “Highest Proficiency in Admiralty Law.” In addition, he was a fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for International Studies. He is admitted to the Ohio and District of Columbia Bars and is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the US.
As general counsel, he represents pilots and the piloting profession before Congress, federal agencies, and state and local legislative and administrative bodies. He also advises pilot groups and pilotage authorities on operations, practices, business structures, and oversight of pilots and pilotage systems. He has served on more than fifty US delegations to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and currently serves as a subject matter expert on US delegations to IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee; Subcommittee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue; and Subcommittee on the Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping. Mr. Diamond is also an instructor at the Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies, California Maritime Academy, and the Maritime Pilots Institute, where he teaches courses on the legal aspects of pilotage. As executive director, he manages APA’s office operations, membership services, and administrative activities.
Mr. Diamond regularly speaks on pilotage and pilotage law and has been published in professional trade and law journals, including as co-author of “Unique Institutions, Indispensable Cogs, and Hoary Figures: Understanding Pilotage Regulation in the United States,” University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal, 2010-11. He was also a contributing author for the book “IMPA on Pilotage” (2014 Witherby Publishing Group), and a contributing editor for a chapter in “The American Practical Navigator – Bowditch” (2017 Lighthouse Press).
In 2012, Mr. Diamond was appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security to serve on the Navigation Safety Advisory Council, a federal advisory committee that provides navigational safety recommendations to the commandant of the Coast Guard.
During his 20-year Coast Guard career, Mr. Diamond served aboard several Coast Guard cutters, culminating with command afloat. During these operational assignments, he was on-scene commander during the early hours of the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800, participated in the seizure of over $300 million in illegal drugs, the interdiction of hundreds of illegal migrants in the Caribbean, and the execution of heavy weather search and rescue cases in the North Atlantic and Bering Sea.
In the legal field, Mr. Diamond served as regional counsel for Coast Guard operations in the eight Great Lakes states, Coast Guard liaison to the State Department (where he was legal advisor to US delegations to IMO), and as the Coast Guard’s legislative counsel. In addition, following 9/11 Mr. Diamond was the first Coast Guard lawyer assigned to support the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Military Commissions, where he served as a special advisor to the DoD general counsel and assisted in preparing prosecution cases for some of the most significant terror suspects in US custody. Mr. Diamond also served on the faculty of the Defense Institute for International Legal Studies where he conducted maritime law seminars in Asia, Africa, and Europe, and was also appointed as a special assistant US attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
In 2002, Mr. Diamond was chosen by the American Bar Association as the “Outstanding Young Military Lawyer.” Other honors include two Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the State Department Superior Honor Award and the NOAA General Counsel’s Award.
Mr. Diamond and his wife Sharon have two grown children and one grandchild and reside in Burke, Va.
Christopher Eddy
US Coast Guard
Christopher Eddy is the search and rescue program manager for Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Miami Florida. He has more than 35 years of search and rescue experience in the Coast Guard and has participated and all levels. As a subject matter expert for 1.7 million miles of dynamic maritime domain, he writes SAR policy, serves as a focal point for national Coast Guard leadership and represents the Coast Guard’s interest in international affairs. As a search and rescue mission coordinator in Miami, he is recognized as one of the most experienced search and rescue coordinators in the United States Coast Guard and has led national level SAR cases. In hurricane prone southeast USA, his experience in hurricane search and rescue has been proven to be benefitable to the agency. His personal interests include motorcycles, guitars, keeping his house plants alive and helping his daughter play electric bass.
Cato Eliassen
Kongsberg Seatex
Cato Giil Eliassen has the role of product manager for the business area navigation and infrastructure in Kongsberg Seatex. In the period stretching from 2002 to 2015 he was a project manager mainly working with AIS and DGPS infrastructure projects around the globe. He was educated at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (MSc) and at the RNoN Naval Academy. He served in the Norwegian Navy for nine years. The last two years as a squadron leader for the HSC combat vessels in the coastal ranger division.
RADM Tim Gallaudet, PhD, USN (ret)
Ocean STL Consulting, LLC
Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret) is the CEO of Ocean STL Consulting, LLC where he is a strategic advisor for a variety of startups, nonprofits, and research institutions in the ocean, weather, climate, environment, space and veterans support sectors. He is a member of the Ocean Studies Board in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, a nominee for the White House Ocean Research Advisory Panel, a fellow at The Explorer’s Club, a distinguished graduate of the University of California, San Diego, a recipient of the US Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award. Previously, Gallaudet served as the acting and deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the acting under secretary and assistant secretary of commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Before NOAA, he served for 32 years in the US Navy, retiring as the oceanographer of the Navy. Gallaudet holds a bachelor’s degree from the US Naval Academy, and master’s and doctoral degrees from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Dr. Scott Gende, PhD
National Park Service
Scott Gende is a senior science advisor for the National Park Service. He received a BS in fish and wildlife biology from Iowa State University, an MS in fisheries from the University of Alaska, and a PhD in fishery and ocean sciences from the University of Washington. He has authored or co-authored nearly 100 published scientific papers, popular science articles, book chapters and conference proceedings focused primarily on marine mammals, seabirds, and ecosystem science. For the past 20 years he has worked closely with managers at Glacier Bay National Park to understand the implications, and mitigate the impacts, of having large cruise ships serve as the predominant means by which visitors access and experience the park. He has worked with UNESCO and managers from protected areas that experience cruise tourism from Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Chile, including spending 6 months in Punta Arenas focused on shipping – marine mammal interactions in the Strait of Magellan. He lives in Juneau, Alaska with his wife and two kids.
CAPT Gaetano Gigliotti (Captain G)
Carnival Cruise Line
Captain Gaetano Gigliotti is a native of Italy. He began his career in 1986 as a deck cadet officer with Carnival on the Mardi Gras. He has served in various positions on board almost all Carnival vessels. He was promoted to captain in 2000 on the Carnival Paradise. He served as master on Carnival Paradise, Carnival Pride, Carnival Victory,
Carnival Miracle, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Valor, Carnival Elation, Carnival Glory, and Carnival Horizon.
In February 2007 Captain Gigliotti moved shoreside as port captain, and in 2008 he was promoted to the position of director of marine safety. In 2011 he was promoted to vice president of nautical safety and operations. In 2013 he moved to corporate as VP of maritime quality assurance. In 2016 he moved back on ships as master on the Carnival Elation and Carnival Horizon. In 2018 he again moved ashore to serve as VP of the Nautical, Fleet Operation Center and safety operations.
Jonathan Kjaerulff
MITAGS
Jon obtained his first license (as a Danish yacht master) at the age of 17, and subsequently attended the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. After graduating in 1983, he sailed in positions from deckhand to master aboard ships and workboats all over the world. After running a support vessel during the Exxon Valdez cleanup effort in Prince William Sound, Jon came ashore and founded Fremont Maritime Services in Seattle, Washington. Over the next 27 years, Jon established a reputation as a pioneer in the field of maritime safety, survival and firefighting training.
His company was one of the very first organizations in the US to obtain Coast Guard approval for STCW Basic Safety Courses, and from 2003 to 2015 Fremont Maritime was the only private company utilized by the US Navy to provide marine firefighting training to its military sailors. Over the years Jon and his team worked with tens of thousands of inland and offshore mariners, providing training not only at Fremont’s school in Seattle, but at customer locations in Alaska, Oregon, California, Florida, Europe, Australia and the Caribbean.
When MITAGS established the Pacific Maritime Institute in Seattle, Jon worked to forge a strong working relationship between the two schools.
In 2017, Fremont Maritime was purchased by MITAGS, and Jon came aboard as a marine safety training and business development specialist. At the beginning of 2021, he took over as director of business development.
CAPT Carolyn Kurtz
Tampa Bay Pilots
Originally from Queens, NY, Captain Kurtz attended the US Merchant Marine Academy. Upon graduation in 1986, she went to sea with Maritime Overseas Corporation and sailed as 3rd, 2nd, and chief mate, receiving her unlimited master’s license in 1993. In 1995 she was accepted into the Tampa Bay Pilots (TMPA) training program, becoming their first (and to date, only) female pilot. She has served as co-manager and training coordinator of TBPA, secretary of the Florida Harbor Pilots Association, and as chair of the Navigation Safety Advisory Council, an advisory board to the US Coast Guard. She currently serves as chair of both the Florida Board of Pilot Commissioners and the newly re-formed National Navigation Safety Advisory Council. She is honored to serve on the boards of the Mariners’ Museum and Park, and First 10 Forward, a non-profit founded by Kings Point women grads benefiting girls and women pursuing nontraditional careers. Carolyn has been a guest instructor at MITAGS and Maritime Pilots Institute, served on numerous professional panels, and is an active mentor with Women Offshore.
In 2022, Carolyn was honored by Proclamation by the Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for her 27 years of service as a Tampa Bay Pilot. Additionally, she was honored to be included as one of Marine Log’s Top 20 Women in Maritime for 2022. Carolyn continues to be passionate about all things maritime and hopes that by sharing her experiences and knowledge she can help to broaden diversity and inclusion within the industry, strengthen pride in our shared maritime culture, and promote a high level of safety and professionalism amongst mariners.
Dr. Christopher Landsea, PhD
NOAA, National Hurricane Center
Christopher W. Landsea, PhD, is chief of the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. The branch generates wind and wave forecasts for the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, tropical North Atlantic Ocean, and tropical northeastern Pacific Ocean.
Dr. Landsea’s main expertise is in seasonal forecasting of hurricanes, in hurricane climate variability and change, and in testing applied research projects for possible use in weather forecasting.
Dr. Landsea is a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the National Weather Association and the American Geophysical Union. He served as the chair of the AMS Committee on Tropical Meteorology and Tropical Cyclones for the years 2000-2002.
Dr. Landsea received his bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science from the University of California Los Angeles (1987) and his masters degree and doctorate in atmospheric science from Colorado State University (1991, 1994).
R. David Lewald
US Coast Guard Headquarters
David Lewald is a navigation systems and aids to navigation specialist for the US Coast Guard. He served for 30 years on active duty in the USCG with 25 of those years spent afloat aboard numerous cutters in all positions including command. He has been a USCG civilian employee since his retirement in 2014. David’s responsibilities include advisory and consultative services to USCG programs and managers on a broad range of navigation matters that involve legacy and future state technology. He serves as an advisor and subject matter expert to the director of marine transportation systems on digital and electronic navigation matters and systems, including electronic chart systems (ECDIS\ECS), automatic identification system (AIS), integrated navigation systems (INS), integrated bridge systems (IBS), navigation sensors (e.g., radar, GPS, etc.), and electronic aids to navigation. David serves as a navigation systems technical expert to standards development organizations such as International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)(vice chair of the IALA-ARM Committee), Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA), and Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM).
He serves as an advisor and subject matter expert to the Director of Marine Transportation Systems on digital and electronic navigation matters and systems, including electronic chart systems (ECDIS\ECS), automatic identification system (AIS), integrated navigation systems (INS), integrated bridge systems (IBS), navigation sensors (e.g. Radar, GPS, etc.), and electronic aids to navigation.
David serves as a navigation systems technical expert to standards development organizations such as International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)(Vice Chair of the IALA-ARM Committee), Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA), and Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM).
Jim Locke
NavSim Technology
Jim is the vice president of marketing and finance with NavSim. His marine experience spans more than 41 years and encompasses research, design, construction, and navigation work with numerous classes of commercial, naval, and government vessels. Prior to his appointment with NavSim, Jim spent 10 years in marketing and sales management roles with major marine manufacturers.
CAPT Richard Madden
MITAGS
Rich was raised in Sackets Harbor, NY on Lake Ontario, where he began his maritime career working at marinas, cleaning charter boats and racing sailboats. He graduated from NY Maritime College in 1990 and worked for Military Sealift Command (MSC) on a variety of underway replenishment, cargo and towing vessels. After leaving MSC in the late 90s, Rich transitioned into the tug and barge industry in Hawaii and then in the Northeast, conducting coastal towing, ship tows and, occasionally, ship assist.
Transitioning back from brown to blue water shipping in the early 2000s, Rich began shipping on commercial deep-sea vessels. Over the past 19 years, these have ranged from contract survey vessels for the US Navy to heavylift/multipurpose vessels to his current command on a medium-sized container ship in worldwide trade. Working on a feeder container ship between the Middle East and East Africa afforded extensive experience during the height of Somali piracy, which lead to an increasing interest in security and safety.
Captain Madden has been an adjunct instructor at MITAGS since 2013. Courses he has been involved with range from operational to management level meteorology, hazardous weather avoidance, navigation (terrestrial, celestial, and electronic), safety, bridge resource management, leadership and management, and shiphandling courses. Rich particularly enjoys simulations and has been involved with port research projects and the Navigation Skills Assessment Program (NSAP) in a variety of roles.
Rich is an associate fellow of the Nautical Institute, member of the Council of American Master Mariners (CAMM) and has been an appointee to the US Coast Guard Navigation Safety Advisory Committee since 2015. He is founder of the Maritime Safety Innovation Lab LLC, a maritime industry consultancy and research organization. Through this organization, Captain Madden works to identify and promulgate best practices in both human and technical skills with the goal of keeping seafarers and vessels safe from harm.
Rich is married to Kelly, a former US Coast Guard boatswain’s mate who now runs the couple’s powerboat extensively on the Chesapeake Bay. They have three adult children and live in Glen Burnie, MD.
Dale Marsh
AD Navigation AS
Mr. Dale Marsh is director of international sales and marketing for AD Navigation AS of Norway. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, and regularly travelling internationally, Dale is a regular attendee, exhibitor, and presenter at pilotage conferences worldwide. Dale first became involved with PPU systems and technology in 2016 and is passionate about collaborating with pilot groups to select PPU systems that deliver the accuracy, reliability, premium after sales support, and training required. A recreational sailor, in his pastime he enjoys sailing, and has chartered yachts and catamarans in the Vava’u Group, Tonga, French Polynesia, Whitsundays, and of course New Zealand’s stunning Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Islands.
CAPT Sean P Meagher
Marinus Vectors
Capt. Sean, a native of Cape Cod, achieved a notable career milestone as the youngest captain at Hyline Cruises at 18. Holding a master unlimited license for sail and power, his maritime expertise in both the private and commercial world is extensive.
His maritime achievements include captaining M/Y Latitude, the only private yacht ever to circumnavigate Svalbard, venturing within 500 miles of the North Pole. Additionally, he led the M/Y Latitude through the Northwest Passage in both directions in consecutive years, the 9th vessel in history to do so.
Currently, Sean serves as a managing partner at Marinus Vectors, a company specializing in maritime physical and cyber security solutions for the superyacht industry and maritime critical infrastructure. Founded by a core group of senior maritime, intelligence, special operations, and international industry professionals. They have an established record of successfully protecting people and critical resources for governments, international industry, and the private sector over decades of hard-earned knowledge gained through activities focused on the countering of global threats.
Beyond the sea, Sean is dedicated to environmental conservation, actively participating in initiatives like Ocean Voyages’ plastic-free ocean mission.
CAPT Gerard C. Pannell, AFNI
STAR Center
Captain Pannell received his bachelor of science in marine transportation management from the State University of New York’s Maritime College at Fort Schuyler in 1987 and in 2009 completed graduate studies in environmental compliance through the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Captain Pannell’s 20-year sailing career includes 10 years as master on commercial and Military Sealift Command deep-sea cargo and tank vessels in domestic and international maritime trades.
In his position as director of training at the American Maritime Officers Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research (STAR) Center in Dania Beach Florida, he is responsible for ensuring the over 3000+ USCG credentialed members of the AMO receive the highest-level professional development training that meets regulatory, contracted company and industry requirements. Since 1994, he has also been a USCG approved instructor in multiple disciplines including bridge simulation, leadership and tank vessel operations courses.
Captain Pannell is a member of the USCG National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (N-MERPAC) and serves as chair. Since 2015 he has served as a member of the United States delegation to the International Maritime Organization Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) as a technical advisor and subject matter expert.
He is a member of the Council of American Master Mariners, an associate fellow of the Nautical Institute and a board member of the Apostleship of the Sea-USA.
Peter Philips
President – Colibri Northwest
Peter and his team work with transit agencies, municipal administrators, elected officials and associations to develop policy, communicate policy to stakeholders and successfully implement public policy in the field. Areas of particular expertise include marine transit policy, industrial and urban land use, print communications and public relations. Peter has 35 years of experience in maritime publishing, conference production, industrial and marine lands policy, and advocacy for the maritime and commercial fishing industries. From 1999-2020 Peter was president of Philips Publishing Group and publisher of Fishermen’s News, Foghorn and Pacific Maritime Magazine, monthly magazines for the commercial fishing, marine transit, and maritime transportation industries.
CAPT Lindsay M. Price
SpaceX
Captain Lindsay Price is a highly accomplished maritime professional with more than 15 years of experience. She is a graduate of SUNY Maritime College and has held a variety of positions in the industry, including captain, USCG designated examiner, and director of advocacy for the Women Offshore Foundation.
In 2011, she was promoted to captain at G&H Towing Company, becoming the first female captain in the company’s history. Captain Price joined SpaceX in the fall of 2022 as captain within the Falcon Ark Recovery Operations. She is responsible for the safe and efficient recovery of Falcon rockets and fairings after launch. Captain Price holds pilotage in the California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach; and in the Texas ports of Galveston, Texas City, Houston, and Freeport.
Captain Price has been publicly appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security through the commandant of the United States Coast Guard to serve as member on NMERPAC (National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee) and NTSAC (National Towing Safety Advisory Committee). In the fall of 2023 she was publicly recognized by the United States Coast Guard with the Public Service Commendation for notable services in furthering the aims and functions of the Coast Guard. She is passionate about advocating for diversity and inclusion in the maritime industry and is a role model for many who are interested in pursuing careers in this case field.
CAPT Jonathan Samuell
Houston Pilots
Captain Jonathan Samuell currently serves as the chairman of the Safety Committee for the American Pilots Association (APA). He previously served as the vice-chairman for the APA’s NavTech Committee for the past 7 years.
Jonathan also currently works as an active pilot on the Houston Ship Channel for the last 16 years. As a member of the Houston Pilots (HP), he has served as chairman of the HP’s eNav Committee for 10 years. Jonathan is an active member in several maritime industry organizations including the NI, RIN, CAMM, IFSMA and MTS.
Prior to working as a state-licensed pilot, Jonathan served aboard various deep sea/drilling vessels and harbor tugs for 15 years. He sailed as master for 6 years and spent 1 year ashore as vessel manager.
Jonathan is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Galveston earning a BS in marine sciences and the university award for Excellence in Research. He is married with twins in college and currently resides in Houston, Texas.
Chuck Stoffer
UHU Technologies
Chuck is a technology professional who holds a BSEE and an MBA and has 40+ years’ experience in the semiconductor test and measurement industry for commercial, medical and the aerospace and defense markets. His main areas of focus for the past 20 years have been in the RF wireless and GPS/GNSS market segments. His roles included senior management in sales and service, tactical sales, and strategic key account management.
Chuck specializes in GPS/GNSS simulation for test and characterization of all receivers and navigation systems for both military and critical infrastructure applications.
Brian Tetreault
US Army Corps of Engineers
Brian Tetreault is the Marine Transportation System (MTS) program manager for Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). In this role he also serves as senior advisor to the US Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) and USACE liaison to the US Coast Guard. Prior to this position, he was a navigation systems specialist at the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory where he worked on projects to develop and implement navigation information systems. He has been a US representative to national and international navigation-related bodies, including the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC), International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM). He is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and served in the Coast Guard for 22 years at sea and ashore.
CAPT Edwin Thiedeman, USCG (ret)
US Coast Guard Headquarters
Mr. Thiedeman presently serves in the Coast Guard Headquarters’ Office of C5I Capabilities (CG-761) supporting search and rescue capabilities and systems, such as the IMO GMDSS, the Cospas-Sarsat distress beacon system, and other distress alerting and communication services and systems.
A prior Coast Guard officer, his background covers shipboard and land-based communications, navigation, and command and control systems. His last duty assignment was as commanding officer at the Coast Guard Navigation Center, where he served as the deputy chair of the Civil GPS Service Interface Committee and operational commander for all electronic navigational services for the United States.
Gerald Thornberry
US Army Corps of Engineers
Gerald Thornberry has served the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for 15 years. He is an alumnus of the University of Louisville where he earned a bachelor of science degree in geography (environmental analysis). He has supported USACE as a GIS specialist, hydrographic surveyor, dredge inspector, and provided mapping and analytical support to emergency operations. Currently, Gerald is a marine information specialist supporting USACE’s enterprise navigation programs and its hydrographic surveying community. His primary focus is on the Inland Electronic Navigational Charting (IENC) Program and eHydro, the USACE hydrographic survey repository. He is a member of the Inland Electronic Navigational Charting Harmonization Group (IEHG), co-chairs the US Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) Future of Navigation Integrated Action Team (FutureNav IAT) and is the US representative to the Permanent River Information Services (RIS) Working Group of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC). In addition to working for USACE, Gerald has been a GIS software and database developer in the private sector. He got his first experience in GIS while serving as a signals intelligence (SIGINT) analyst in the US Army in the 1990s.
Morgan Turrell
National Transportation Safety Board
Morgan Turrell began working at the National Transportation Safety Board in September of 2003. He was named Director, Office of Marine Safety in February 2021. He is responsible for the investigations and report development of Major Marine Casualties in the United States, and on US vessels worldwide.
Since joining the Office of Marine Safety, Morgan has led or participated in many notable cases, including the Staten Island Ferry allision (2003) and the Baltimore Water Taxi Lady D capsizing (2004). He was the IIC for the investigation into the sinking of the Ethan Allen in Lake George, NY, (2005) for which the NTSB awarded Morgan the Dr. Joseph Nall award.
From 2007 to 2010, Morgan was the Vice President of Marine Investigations for Princess Cruises where he investigated casualties aboard ships worldwide for Carnival Corporation. Since returning to the agency, Morgan has represented the NTSB at the International Maritime Organization in London and the Marine Accident Investigators International Forum (MAIIF). He was the NTSB investigator for the Costa Concordia accident in Italy (2012). In 2014, Morgan was named the Chief of Investigations in the Office of Marine Safety. He led the agency’s investigation of the El Faro sinking, including the successful retrieval of its voyage data recorder. In 2017, Morgan was named the Deputy Director for OMS.
After graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1987, Morgan served as a licensed deck officer aboard a variety of commercial vessels including tankers, container ships, rollon/roll-off, and bulk carriers. He was Project Manager at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography, and captain of its research vessel Thomas G. Thompson, conducting operations in the Pacific Ocean.
Morgan earned an MBA from Pepperdine University, a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine Law School, and an MA from George Mason University in Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics. He is still licensed by the United States Coast Guard as Master of ocean vessels of any gross tons.
Darren Wright
NOAA, Office of Coast Survey
Darren Wright is the Precision Marine Navigation program manager of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey (OCS). Darren has been with NOAA since 1984 and worked in operational oceanography and meteorology for more than 34 years before moving to the National Weather Service (NWS) more than five years ago. There he was responsible for improving coastal, offshore and high seas forecast products and services for the NWS. Darren recently moved to OCS and is now using his past NOAA experience to work with other NOAA line offices, federal agencies and the marine community to provide NOAA’s important marine navigation information such as nautical charts, bathymetry, water level, currents and weather in an internationally standard format for navigation system manufacturers to create data overlays and dynamic displays.