CRAIG H. ALLEN, FNI, FRIN
University of Washington

Craig H. Allen is the Judson Falknor Professor of Law and Adjunct Professor of Marine of Affairs at the University of Washington.  He joined the university faculty in 1996, following his retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard.  He is a licensed master mariner (now inactive), a fellow in the Nautical Institute and the Royal Institute of Navigation and has served on the U.S. Navigation Safety Council since 2006.  Professor Allen is on the board of editors of Ocean Development and International Law, the IMO Liaison Committee of the Nautical Institute and the author of Farwell's Rules of the Nautical Road (Naval Institute Press, 2004). For the 2006-2007 academic year he served as the RADM Charles H. Stockton Chair in International Law at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI.

JORGE ARROYO
United States Coast Guard

Jorge Arroyo joined the United States Coast Guard in 1980 and in the subsequent 13 years served as a commissioned officer with assignments and duties in recreational boating safety, search & rescue, vessel traffic management, polar icebreaking, ship and shore-side operations.  He was project officer in over two dozen regulatory projects including the 1986 Summer Olympic yachting events and U.S. vessel traffic service rules.

After a 5 year hiatus, he returned to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1999 and is currently a program & management analyst in Office of Navigation Systems at USCG Headquarters in Washington, D.C and the USCG’s regulatory project officer and subject matter expert for Automatic Identification System (AIS).  He is also: U.S. delegate to the International Maritime Organization Navigation Sub-Committee; member of various working groups of the International Electrotechnical Committee and Radio Technical Committee for Maritime Services; and, Vice-Chair of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (AIS) working group.

Mr. Arroyo obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois, Juris Doctor from DePaul Law School in Chicago, Illinois, and, has sailed the seven seas and made land-fall on every continent.

DR. LEE ALEXANDER
Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

Lee Alexander is a Research Associate Professor at the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping – Joint Hydrographic Center at the University of New Hampshire. Previously a Research Scientist with the U.S. Coast Guard, he was also a Visiting Scientist with the Canadian Hydrographic Service. His area of expertise is applied Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) on electronic charting and e-Navigation-related technologies. Actively involved in international standards development, he serves on several international committees/working groups including:

CAPT. WAYNE BAILEY
American Pilots’ Association Navigation & Technology Committee

Capt. Wayne Bailey is a State Pilot licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Vice-Chairman of the American Pilots’ Association Navigation and Technology Committee.

A 1978 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Wayne has been a State Pilot on the Delaware Bay & River for 26 years and since 1994 has directed his Pilots’ Association’s Portable Pilot Navigation and Technology programs. Wayne serves on the Mariner’s Advisory Committee for the Bay & River Delaware, the Delaware Bay Area Maritime Security Committee, has consulted for the US Army Corps of Engineers, and teaches ship-handling and marine electronics courses at the Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies (MITAGS).

RADM GARY BLORE

13th Coast Guard District

Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore serves as the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District headquartered in Seattle, Washington. As District Commander, Rear Admiral Blore is responsible for US Coast Guard operations covering 4 states, more than 4,400 miles of coastline, 600 miles of inland waterways, and a 125-mile international border with Canada.

A 1975 graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, Rear Admiral Blore initially served aboard the medium endurance cutter Venturous. In 1976, after training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, he was designated a Coast Guard Aviator. From 1977 until 1982, he served as a helicopter aircraft commander at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn, New York, deploying frequently aboard cutters in the Caribbean. During that tour, he participated in the US response to the Cuban Refugee Crisis of 1980.

Rear Admiral Blore has served in at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, as an aircraft commander in Massachusetts and executive officer of a 28-member aviation detachment to Manama, Bahrain, during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He attended the Air War College, in Montgomery, Alabama, where he studied national security issues, and after being promoted to flag rank in September 2004, served as Special Assistant to the President.

Rear Admiral Blore is a DHS Level 3 certified Acquisition Program Manager and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, with honors, from the US Coast Guard Academy. He also has a master's degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University. His personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, five awards of the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals and the Transportation 9-11 Medal, as well as other service and campaign awards.

TOM COLBY
Alaska Tanker Company

Tom Colby is currently Marine Team Leader and Valdez Port Manager for Alaska Tanker Company (ATC), and is based in Valdez.  He holds a BS in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M University and is a USCG-licensed Master Mariner, with federal pilotage for Prince William Sound. As Marine Team Leader, Tom is accountable to ATC’s CEO for the Masters and deck officers in the ATC fleet.

Tom began serving in 1978 as a licensed deck officer in ships in the crude oil, oil products, chemicals and dry cargo trades worldwide, including Master of crude oil tankers from 1986 through 1996. In 1997, he began working for BP as Port Manager in Valdez until joining ATC at its formation in 1999.

Tom is currently on the Prince William Sound Area Maritime Security Committee, the Valdez Marine Safety Committee, and the Board of Directors for the Alaska Marine Exchange. He has served on the City of Valdez Ports and Harbor Commission, the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation Board, the Prince William Sound Community College Advisory Board, and is past president of the Valdez Chamber of Commerce. Tom also serves on, and has chaired, the Response Planning Group (RPG) that represents Prince William Sound Vessel Response Plan holders.  The RPG is continually involved in oil spill prevention and response planning, research and development, and maintains the Prince William Sound Tanker Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan and the Prince William Sound Vessel Escort and Response Plan.

GEOFFREY W. GILL
Countryman & McDaniel

Geoff Gill's maritime career began with his working as a 15 year old “jungmann”/deckboy on a Norwegian freighter. Graduation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and several years service in successive deck officer positions on breakbulk and container vessels in worldwide service followed, as well as Naval War College and a Fordham University School of Law education.

Geoff served as master of a sailing vessel carrying passengers for hire and is admitted as an attorney in the states of New York, Florida and California.  His 25+ years as an attorney have been spent predominantly in the investigation and defense of maritime casualty claims. Geoff has made a study of shipboard and organizational error as a factor in maritime casualties, drawing heavily from research undertaken in other safety-sensitive domains.  Having addressed aspects of this issue at several maritime academies, before professional groups and with senior shipping company management, a number of his conclusions and recommendations have been incorporated into the training of maritime officers and into operational procedures.  He has authored a multi-volume maritime law book and is working on a book assessing error issues, emphasizing remediation from the organizational as well as the watch keepers’ perspective and legal implications. Geoff is a Member of The Nautical Institute and the forensics panel of SNAME.  Over many years he has continued to volunteer as a watch officer on brigantines out of San Pedro engaged in developing the self esteem and character of at risk and inner city youth.  He is Of Counsel with the international transportation law firm Countryman & McDaniel, Los Angeles.

Geoff is concluding research and his writing of a book scheduled for publication in
2011. The book will set forth a thorough and objective study of the understanding and management of organizational and human factors that contribute to maritime casualties.

JOHN ERIK HAGEN
Norwegian Coastal Administration

John Erik Hagen is Regional Director for the Norwegian Coastal Administration’s Region Western Norway, a region with a total of more than 200 employees.

He pursued a career in the Norwegian Navy, serving nearly ten years as an officer. He also holds a University Degree in Law, Social Science, Economics and Business Administration.

In the 80s he spent several years in various managing positions in the offshore industry and transportation services.

CDR CHRISTIAN HEMPSTEAD
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Christian Hempstead, Master Mariner; MNI, MA, trained at sea as a youth and at U. S. maritime academies, sailed 19 years as junior and senior deck officer with SeaRiver Maritime Inc. (formerly Exxon Shipping Co.) including 5 years responsible for type-approved ECDIS and other electronic chart systems as watchstanding navigation officer; ongoing development and delivery of certified ECDIS training in the U.S. since 1999 including author of first approved ECDIS course in the US, 2000, and first certified ECDIS course at US maritime academies; contributed significantly to the ECDIS training requirements in the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Code and Guidance; ongoing innovations in design and implementation of large-scale ECDIS simulation and integrated navigation training environments - methods and models that are being adopted at training sites in the U.S and abroad; ongoing trainer training in ECDIS instruction; 4 years instructor & developer at PMI & MITAGS; 6 years to present Associate Professor at USMMA, teaching topics in integrated navigation.

CAPT. PRASH KARNIK
Holland America Lines

Captain Prash Karnik has been part of the maritime industry, working both onboard ships and ashore for over 30 years. He started his career at sea in 1979 as a cadet on cargo ships tramping worldwide. In 1987, after sailing in various ascending capacities as navigation officer on break bulk ships, large bulk carriers, container carriers and oil tankers, he joined Admiral Cruise Lines, Miami on the s.s. Azure Seas. Upon Royal Caribbean International’s take over of Admiral Cruise Lines, he sailed on several of the cruise ships both on the west and east coasts of United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean and Bermuda. Prash achieved his Master Class I license from the Australian Maritime College in 1992. In 1996 he received his first command on the cruise ship m.s. Viking Serenade and since on several Royal Caribbean International luxury cruise ships for the next 8 years. He returned to school and completed his business degree with honors from City University in 2005. The same year, he accepted his present position as Deputy Director Nautical Operations with Holland America Line, Seattle, where he is responsible for operational support of the company’s 15 cruise ships in navigation, safety, lifesaving and stability functions. He is deeply engaged in nautical training programs for the navigation officers and has been instrumental in coordinating the Navigation Skills Assessment program for Holland America Line officers at the Pacific Maritime Institute as well as the Bridge Team Management training at CSMART in Netherlands.

He holds ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Company Security Officer, Maritime Instructor, and FEMA Incident Command System Certifications. He has chaired the Holland America line’s Fleet Safety Committee to support the onboard safety programs. Prash is a member of the Operations and Technical Committee of the North West and Canada Cruise Association and the American Society for Quality.         

CAPT. TIM MCCULLY
U.S. Navy (Retired)

Captain Timothy (Tim) Vickers McCully, US Navy (Retired), was born in the small north Mississippi farming town of Louisville in 1954. He graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi in 1976, earning his Navy commission through Ole Miss‚ Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.

After earning his Master’s Degree in National Security Affairs at the Naval War College in Rhode Island in 1995, Commander McCully took command of USS Merrill (DD-976) in 1996. The San Diego-based destroyer deployed to the Arabian Gulf, earning the Meritorious Unit Citation for capturing an oil smuggler with 400,000 gallons of contraband Iraqi diesel fuel.

In his 30-year Navy career, Captain McCully served aboard eight combatant ships, completing three Arabian Gulf and two North Arabian Sea deployments, and cruises to the Western Pacific and the Caribbean. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Captain McCully retired from Navy active duty in June, 2006 and immediately continued his service as a senior Navy civilian as Deputy Commander of MSC‚s Sealift Logistics Command Pacific in San Diego, assisting the current Commodore in charge of Military Sealift Command’s operations in the Eastern Pacific.

CAPTAIN ROBERT G. MOORE, FNI, USCG (Ret)

eNavigation Conference Program Director

Robert G. Moore recently retired as President of Coastwatch, Inc., a maritime consulting firm specializing in government and industry projects to improve safety and vessel operations as well as other coastal zone work. He has more than 40 years of experience in maritime and international affairs. He is a master mariner and a retired Coast Guard officer with special expertise in ship operations and marine navigation. Captain Moore served as military readiness/operations program manager in the Coast Guard, represented the United States at foreign conferences, managed multinational navigation systems, and was public safety advisor for the Agency for International development to the Government of Somalia. His consulting assignments and publications cover subjects such as coastal defense and security, vessel traffic management, command and control systems, and surveillance. Captain Moore served as a member of the Marine Board Committee on Maritime Advanced Information Systems and the Transportation Research Board’s Committee for Evaluating Shipboard Display of Automatic Identification Systems. He has a B.S. in Engineering from the US Coast Guard Academy and received continuing education at the US Naval War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He is a Fellow of the Nautical Institute and an Associate Fellow of the British Royal Institute of Navigation.

BORIS MANUEL MORENO VASQUEZ

Panama Canal Authority

Boris (Manuel Moreno) Vasquez has 27 years of experience working at the Panama Canal Authority, and currently holds the position of Executive Manager for the Technology Division, responsible of the administration, development and maintenance of all computer, security, electronics and telecommunication systems that supports the operation, maintenance, safety and administration of the Panama Canal.

Mr. Vasquez began working in the lock division of the Panama Canal Authority upon his graduation in 1984 from the Universidad Tecnológica de Panama, with a degree in Electromechanical Engineering. In 1987, Mr. Vasquez earned his electrical certification from the Authority’s Apprentice School Program, and in 2004 he earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the INCAE Management Development Program.

Mr. Vasquez has 15 years’ experience in the Locks Division as a technician and crew leader in several projects including turntable installation, towing locomotives and locks rails overhaul and hydraulic prototype cylinders installations. Mr. Vasquez also spent 7 years in the Canal Capacity Project Division, where he participated in several studies for the third set of locks project, including ship positioning alternatives, alignment alternatives and a SyncroLIft study for ships up to 30, 000DWT.

Mr. Vasquez also has experience as a team leader for one of teams involved in the studies and conceptual design for the Panama Canal third set of locks, as well as experience as Executive Manager for the Project Management Unit of the Locks Division and Project Manager for all maintenance, operational and investment projects of the Division.

JOHN MURRY

International Chamber of Shipping

John Murray joined ICS following previous careers at sea, as a maritime college lecturer, and an independent safety advisor.  These previous experiences have been valuable assets and in addition to having responsibility for the ICS  Marine Committee, Radio and Nautical Sub-Committee, the Chemical Tanker Panel and participating in IMO meetings. John also has particular roles in safety and publications work.  Other activities include managing the Industry Lifeboat Group (ILG) and having chaired the industry human factors task group (HFTG). IMO has adopted a strategy to develop e‑navigation and John represents ICS in discussions both at IMO and in other fora regarding this topic which will certainly incorporate lessons learnt during the introduction of mandatory ECDIS. 

DAVID PATRAIKO, BSc, MBA, FNI
The Nautical Institute

David Patraiko is the current Director of Projects for The Nautical Institute. He is responsible for developing and managing major Institute projects and co-ordinates the work of the Institute’s Technical and Professional Development Committees. He represents the professional interests of members’ in general shipping, training and technical forum, and at the IMO. Much of this work is aimed at assisting members of the Institute with Continuous Professional Development. He has led research and produced many papers and articles on the use of CBT, Electronic Navigation, implementation of IT systems on board merchant vessels and the associated ‘Human Element’ effects created by technology. He is currently involved with the international development of e-navigation and is Chairman of the IALA e-navigation working group for Strategy and Operations.

After a brief period as an independent consultant and surveyor, in 1997 he accepted the position as Project Manager for The Nautical Institute, and became Director of Projects in 2003. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (US), he sailed on a variety of international vessels in his twelve years in the Merchant Navy (1985 – 1997). He holds an Unlimited Master Mariners licence, and was awarded an MBA degree from Henley Management College (UK).

The Nautical Institute is the recognised international professional body for qualified mariners and others with an interest in nautical science. Its purpose is to promote high standards of knowledge, qualifications and competence amongst those in control of sea-going craft, both afloat and ashore. The Institute holds Non-Governmental Organisation status at the International Maritime Organization.

PETER PHILIPS
Philips Publishing Group

Peter is the President of Philips Publishing Group, publishers of trade journals for the maritime and transportation industries. In the twenty years since Philips Publishing was founded by Peter’s father in 1983, the company has grown to become the largest maritime and transportation publishing house on the West Coast. Titles include Pacific Maritime Magazine, aimed at West Coast commercial vessel and terminal operators, FOGHORN, the official publication of the Passenger Vessel Association, Clipper Vacations Magazine, published for Seattle’s Clipper Navigation and Fishermen's News, the oldest commercial fishing publication on the Pacific Coast. In addition to publishing trade journals, Philips Publishing also specializes in creative design services for the maritime and transportation industries, with clients across the country. Peter serves as President of the Seattle Marine Business Coalition, which represents the interests of marine industrial land users.

Peter also served on the Viaduct Advisory Committee convened by state, county and city departments of transportation (DOT) to advise DOT on viaduct retrofit and/or replacement options. Peter is Past President of the Port of Seattle Chapter of the Propeller Club, and past regional Vice President, West Coast, of the Propeller Club; a maritime professional organization, whose goal is the promotion of US maritime commerce and support of existing maritime businesses and related services, including the American Merchant Marine. Peter has a BA in History from Whitman College, and has been employed in the maritime publishing field since 1985.

VICTOR J. SHISLER

Jacobson Pilot Service

Victor Schisler has 43 years of piloting experience on San Pedro (Jacobsen Pilot Service) and San Francisco Bays and tributaries utilizing tugs and their services successfully while maneuvering over 16,000 vessels in and out of these harbors.  He has served as a consultant to various groups in the Maritime Industry for over ten years. Prior to becoming a pilot Schisler was employed as a Mate and Captain of seagoing tugs by Crowley Maritime performing many tows throughout the Pacific Ocean.

Victor is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Long Island with a BS in Marine Transportation.

J. MICHAEL SOLLOSI

United States Coast Guard

Mike Sollosi has served in the United States Coast Guard since 1976 as a commissioned officer and as a civil servant. In the beginning of his Coast Guard career, he worked in the aids to navigation field, including service on buoy tenders in the North Atlantic and Alaska. He is now chief of the Office of Navigation Systems in Coast Guard Headquarters. In this capacity, he has responsibility for short range aids to navigation, Electronic Navigation systems, navigation equipment standards and the Navigation Rules. He served as Head of Delegation or as a delegate to the International Maritime Organization’s Safety of Navigation Subcommittee for several years, and was recently elected Chairman of the Subcommittee. Mr. Sollosi has more than 20 years experience in the operation, administration and management of Vessel Traffic Services, with service ranging from watchstander to program director, and including the Chairmanship of the VTS Committee within the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.

BARRY STRAUCH

National Transportation Safety Board

Mr. Strauch is a Chief of the Major Investigations Division of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Office of Marine Safety. From 2000-2003 he was the Assistant Director for Instruction of the NTSB Academy. From 1995 to 2000 he was the Chief of the Human Performance Division of the NTSB's Office of Aviation Safety.

He joined the Safety Board as a human performance investigator in 1983 and became an investigator-in-charge of major aviation accident investigations in 1986. In 1990 he became the Deputy Chief of the Major Investigations Division in the Office of Aviation Safety before becoming Division Chief in that Office in 1993. In 1992 Mr. Strauch also became the head of the program that trains the NTSB’s aircraft accident investigators.

Before joining the Safety Board, Mr. Strauch was on the faculty of the University of Louisville where he taught Psychology, and at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he taught Psychology and conducted human factors research in aviation.  He was an adjunct faculty member in the Psychology Department of George Mason University and in the Aviation Safety and Security Certificate Program at George Washington University. He is the author of the book, “Investigating Human Error: Incidents, Accidents, and Complex Systems,” which was published by Ashgate Publishing in August 2002, and of numerous papers and presentations.

He earned a B.A. in Psychology from New York University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Educational Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University. He holds an FAA commercial pilot certificate with instrument airplane rating and a certified flight instructor certificate-with instrument airplane rating.

BRIAN TETREAULT

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers

Brian Tetreault is a navigation systems specialist for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. His focus area includes eNavigation projects, including implementation of navigation systems to improve safety, efficiency and reliability of inland and coastal waterways.  Brian retired from the U. S. Coast Guard in 2009; his 22-year Coast Guard career included assignments aboard icebreakers in the North Atlantic and Great Lakes and a fisheries patrol cutter in Alaska as well as over 10 years of navigation safety assignments, including Vessel Traffic Services program manager. He is a representative to the IALA e-Navigation Committee and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) AIS Technical Working Group (TWG).  He serves on several working groups on e-Navigation and AIS matters and is Chair of the RTCM AIS Application Specific Message TWG. He is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and holds an Unlimited 2nd Mate license and a 1600 Ton Master license. In his spare time Brian maintains his blog at: http://www.maritimespatial.com; you can follow him on Twitter @MaritimeSpatial.

JUERGEN TROEGLE

via donau

Juergen Troegl has been working for the Austrian waterway administration "via donau" for over ten years. For the past four years he has been a team leader for the development of River Information Services (RIS) and traffic management applications. He holds a Masters degree in telecommunications and is an expert in the field of the Automatic Identification System (AIS). He has many years of practical experience in design and implementation of RIS. Juergen is also a lecturer at the University for Applied Sciences in Vienna, giving a course on "ITS in waterborne transportation".

ALAN WEIGEL
Blank Rome LLP

Alan Weigel is of counsel in the law firm of Blank Rome LLP in New York.  He concentrates his practice in the area of commercial and insurance litigation and arbitration, with particular emphasis on the maritime industry.  Mr. Weigel represents clients in a wide variety of both domestic and international maritime, commercial, and insurance matters, including vessel collisions, groundings and oil spills, vessel arrests, charter party disputes and cargo damage claims.

Mr. Weigel is a 1979 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a 1987 distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Postgraduate School.  During his twenty year career as a submarine officer in the United States Navy he developed skills as both a deck officer and engineer, as well as in deep ocean search and salvage.  He commanded a Deep Submergence Vehicle and served ashore in a variety of staff positions.