Maritime Business/Safety/Security Specialist

Increasing waterfront productivity through Leadership and Teamwork

Award-winning leader with extensive safety operations, emergency, security, and general management experience in the public and private maritime sector.  Keeps situational awareness to help identify and remediate gaps in safety, productivity etc. Professional references’ testimonial to superb work ethic.  

Can design corrective action recommendation based on investigations of accidents, incidents, and environmental issues; introduce proactive systems and tools to mitigate issues.

Security Breach ReductionwSC State Ports Authority Police Department

• Slashed crewman security breaches in restricted-access cargo areas by 70% in first 6 months and nearly 90% in 18 months; utilized off-duty police officers at ship/shore access point for duration of foreign ship visits.

Access Control ManagementwSC State Ports Authority Police Department

• Directed all day-to-day operations of $25M Port Authority Terminal Access Control program, strategically balancing the flow of commerce and security for contractors, vendors, tenants, business tours, and VIPs.

Training CoordinationwSC State Ports Authority Police Department

• Revamped training operations and orchestrated weekly, monthly, and annual security drills/exercises for 40+ port security and police officers.

Safety Exercise ManagementwUnited States Coast Guard (USCG)

• Earned recognition from SC governor for expertly managing largest HazMat release full-scale exercise ever held in Charleston (43 participant agencies), yielding new mutual aid agreements and improved interagency cooperation.

Winslow COnsulting Inc. wCharleston, SC                                                                             2016 to Present

Consultant

Provide federal maritime regulatory assistance to ensure compliance with MTSA/Title 33 CFR. Consult on audits, reports, and other compliance challenges.

SC State Ports Authority Police Department wCharleston, SC                                          2009 to 2016

Training, Security and Regulatory Compliance Officer

Appointed to develop and execute training for 40+ sworn/unsworn officers to maintain compliance with federal waterfront facility requirements and procedures; oversaw preparations for annual security exams and spot checks, ensuring expeditious corrective actions. Coordinated drills and annual exercises. Investigated and reported on security breaches. Drafted requests to CG for temporary deviations from rules for special events. Supervised 2 staff.

• Achieved clean USCG compliance exam results for 5 major Terminals for the first time in 6+ years by strict attention to detail and reviewing security daily reports for discrepancies noted & scheduling corrections.
• Earned top “Exceeds Expectations” evaluation in Quality of Work, Team Development, Leadership and Safety Leadership categories in 2014 and 2015 annual reviews.
• Improved gate access procedural continuity and standardization by following up email with on-site review.

Facility Security Officer/Training and Regulatory Compliance Officer (continued)

• Amplified morale and earned respect of officers by engaging closely with staff to understand their needs, listen to their concerns, and ensuring proper personal protective gear and supplies on hand.
• Acknowledged as recipient of SCSPA’s Superior Employee Performance Recognition Program (2012 to 2015).

SC Department of Health & Environmental Control w Charleston, SC                               2007 to 2008

Manager, Regulatory Permitting Division – Office of Coastal Resource Management

Oversaw permit applications processing for private docks in marshes and coastal areas while apprising senior staff of project status, litigative stalls, and hearings related to requests. Supervised 8 direct reports.

• Championed more database load changes in first 6 months than prior 2 years through traveling to central office to discuss proposed changes with IT and establish OCRM as valued business unit worth their time.

United Technologies Inc. (UNITECH) wCharleston, SC                                                                2005 to 2007

Project Manager/Subject Matter Specialist

Brought on board to design instructional and student material supporting 8 multi-day Incident Command System (ICS) 300-level courses for first responders; acted as primary instructor. Collaborated with CBT designers in NM office to develop comprehensive virtual program. Conducted briefings for the Chief, State Law Enforcement Division.

• Facilitated training for foreign Maritime Border Guard agencies to perform ship cargo inspections for radioactive weapons material for IEDs and WMDs, leveraging experience as large vessel boarding officer.
• Revamped 4 USCG Marine safety training courses, generated new curriculum and job aid materials.
• Mitigated errors in training manuals and handouts printed by 3-party European print shop through clarifying expectations in writing to avoid language issues over the phone.

USCG wVarious Locations                                                                                                                  1977 to 2005

Director, Atlantic Region Incident Management Assist Teams/ICS Program Manager

• Earned fast-track promotions from Response Petty Officer to senior leadership roles, based on top-shelf management skills; supervised up to 34 staff.
• Played key role in operational planning, preparedness, and oversight for all Marine Safety activities at 32 port areas and 5 direct offices. Appointed to oversee ICS implementation, training, and use across Atlantic region.
• Organized and led largest multi-agency, full-scale Haz-Mat exercise to date in Charleston area; well-received by state and local officials, yielding new mutual aid agreements and improved interagency cooperation.
• Mitigated potential environmental disaster and major port closure after containership ran aground outside Charleston harbor entrance by coordinating resources from multiple agencies to refloat ship.
• Received numerous letters of commendation for superior leadership and expeditiously responding to crises.
• Completed 2 engineering tours and 6 marine safety/port safety tours over 14 years enlisted and 14 years commissioned; retired honorably as a decorated Lieutenant Commander.

Bachelor of Business Administration (magna cum laude): Strayer University, Washington, DC, 2012

• Letter-certified as a USCG Training Center-level Instructor
• Certified Safety Specialist (CSP), in progress (completion October 2016)
• Multiple National Incident Management System (NIMS)/ICS Certifications
• ISPS Code Security Officer
• Hazardous Material Response Technician, American Association of Railroads TTC
• MTSA Facility Security Officer (FSO), ABS International
• SC Area Maritime Security Committee Member

Training: Microsoft Office; USCG Basic Instructor Development; Crisis Management; USCG Hazardous Materials Incident Response; USCG Basic Facilitation/Total Quality Management; USCG Marine Safety Casualty Investigations; USCG Contingency Planning Command & Control

Publications: “Port Safety Risk Management vs Ever-Increasing Cargo Volume,” Ezinearticles.com, August 2016; “First Class Pilot Chart Sketch Exams: Partnering with the USACE yields a better product,” USCG Proceedings Magazine, April/June 1997