October 13th Speakers
Arathy Somasekhar
Arathy Somasekhar is a Reuters energy and shipping correspondent based in Houston whose reporting examines how oil, geopolitics and global markets intersect. She covers the companies, traders and policymakers shaping the world's energy system, with a focus on U.S. oil and shipping markets, corporate strategy and the shifting global balance of energy power. Her work combines breaking news, exclusive stories and deeply sourced enterprise reporting that reveals how the energy industry's biggest moves ripple through the world economy and geopolitics.
Dr. Beatriz Canamary
Dr. Beatriz Canamary advises maritime, port, and infrastructure leaders on complex deal structuring, operational turnarounds, and scaling innovation in legacy industries. She specializes in constraint-based strategy—identifying the systemic bottlenecks that prevent pilots from reaching commercial scale and structuring partnerships to de-risk long-term investments.
With 20 years of executive experience in port and infrastructure operations, Dr. Canamary held senior roles at a $6.5 billion steel and port complex and co-negotiated a landmark joint venture with the Port of Rotterdam, structuring partnership terms and multi-stakeholder coalitions through deal close.
She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration focused on sustainability in the U.S. port industry, a Certificate in Mergers & Acquisitions from Harvard Business School, and degrees in Civil Engineering. She is the founder of SuRe Strategy Group, serves as Chair of the Innovation and Workforce Development Committee for the Floating Economy Institute, and is an Adjunct Professor in Engineering and Business Analytics at Florida Polytechnic University.
Ben Pinnington
Carleen Lyden Walker
Carleen Lyden Walker is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) leveraging off her experience as a marketing and communications professional in the commercial maritime industry with over 40 years of experience. She specializes in identifying, developing and implementing strategic marketing and communications programs that increase the visibility and effectiveness of NAMEPA as well as the development of educational resources promoting marine environment protection. She works to develop strategic alliances between industry, regulators, conservation groups and educators to “Save Our Seas”.
In 2015, Ms. Lyden Walker was appointed an Ambassador by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). She is a member of WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association), the Connecticut Maritime Association, the Marine Society of the City of New York, The National Press Club, WIMAC (Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean) and is a Past-President of the Propeller Club Chapter of the Port of NY/NJ. She was also elected to the Board of Trustees of the Coast Guard Foundation, the Tall Ships America Foundation, New York Harbor Foundation and the New Era Academy Transportation Technologies Program in Baltimore. She was recently named one of the top 100 women in shipping globally.
Ms. Lyden Walker is also Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Marketing & Communications, is Chief Evolution Officer of SHIPPINGInsight, Founder of CARIBMEPA and the Co-Founder/Executive Director of the Consortium for International Maritime Heritage. In 2010, she was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the United States Coast Guard and in 2014 a Public Service Commendation for her work on World Maritime Day and AMVER, respectively. Ms. Lyden Walker graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Political Science and History (minor in Economics), studied Accounting at Cornell School of Business Administration and is a trained facilitator and media trainer. She held a USCG Captain’s license.
Charles Salmon
Charles brings cross-sector experience spanning the practice of law at Locke Lord and consulting at McKinsey to his role at Hanwha Shipping. This experience includes deal negotiation, growth strategy, cost transformation, and organizational structuring for large-scale enterprises. His prior service as a Naval Intelligence Officer in the Western Pacific provides a differentiated perspective on the maritime domain at the intersection of commercial economics and national security.
Charles’ background serving major companies at critical points in their operations as an attorney and then consultant coupled with his experience in Naval Intelligence provide a unique strategic view of the economic and national security aspects of the global maritime space and a strong perspective on how to set and achieve strategic aims. He earned a Sloan Fellows MBA from MIT Sloan, a JD from the University of Houston, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Darren Shelton
Darren Shelton currently serves as Vice President for Moran Shipping Agencies.
Previously, he managed offices in the US Gulf before leading Moran’s Quality Systems and Voyage Data teams. With nearly 30 years of experience in the maritime industry, he’s a frequent speaker at shipping, energy and startup conferences. Darren is Chairman Emeritus of the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee which represents 800+ stakeholders on Texas ship channels, received a commendation from the United States Coast Guard for his leadership, in addition to being recognized on the floors of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives for service to his community. He is an ambassador for Informa Markets’ Seatrade Maritime Club and Eyesea.
In 2018 he envisioned a blockchain startup for the energy sector which led to his co-founding FuelTrust, an AI driven software company that follows commodities through their lifecycles for supply chain solutions.
Darren is an EMBA candidate at the University of East London, adding to his studies at Stephen F. Austin State University and an honorary degree from Alvin Community College where he also presently serves on their Board of Regents.
David Levy
David Levy is no stranger to innovation in maritime technology. He spent nearly eight years as cofounder and chief marketing officer of OrbitMI, growing its voyage and commercial performance platform into one of maritime technology's most recognized global brands. He now leads go-to-market strategy at Ripple Operations, a workforce management platform, applying that same experience to the side of the industry built around seafarers.
David Walker
David Walker is responsible for helping ABS fulfill its mission to serve the public interest as well as the needs of our members and clients by promoting the security of life and property, and preserving the natural environment.
ABS Global Government Services focuses on the needs of government clients with military or other public fleets as well as research, development, and demonstration programs that ABS undertakes with government agencies on a wide range of maritime innovation topics. Additionally, David is the ABS lead for the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation for the U.S. Maritime Administration. ABS is the Secretariat working to establish and operate the Center for MARAD. The Center engages a wide range of research partners, industry organizations, interagency partners, and maritime stakeholders in leading innovative projects for a safer, more efficient, and more competitive U.S. Marine Transportation System.
Geir Kalhagen
: Geir Eilif Kalhagen is a seasoned maritime and transportation executive with more than three decades of global supply chain, port, logistics, and ferry system leadership experience. As Director of TxDOT’s Maritime Division, he leads initiatives that advance Texas’ ports, waterways, freight mobility, maritime competitiveness, and the nation’s second-largest ferry system while contributing nationally and internationally through appointments, board service, academic engagement, and industry speaking roles.
Geir Eilif Kalhagen serves as Director of the Maritime Division for the Texas Department of Transportation, where he leads statewide efforts to strengthen Texas’ maritime system, support port and waterway development, advance freight mobility, oversee the nation’s second-largest ferry system, and promote the economic vitality of the state’s seaports and supply chains.
Kalhagen brings more than three decades of direct experience in the global supply chain, with core expertise in maritime transportation, global logistics, international commerce, port governance, infrastructure development, and public-private collaboration. His career includes international experience across Southeast Asia, Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as senior leadership in the Washington State public port system, including service as CEO and executive director of a deep-water port authority.
His leadership has been recognized through appointments and service with several national and international maritime organizations. Kalhagen has been appointed to the Transportation Research Board and the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee, and he was appointed by Washington Governor Jay Inslee to the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board. He has also served as First Vice President of the Americas for the International Association of Ports and Harbors and has held leadership and advisory roles with the American Association of Port Authorities and the Washington Public Ports Association.
Kalhagen currently serves on the Managing Board for the Texas Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee and on the Advisory Board for the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives. Through these roles, he contributes to strategic discussions on maritime safety, port management education, industry workforce development, and the future of port and terminal operations.
In higher education, Kalhagen served as an adjunct professor at Lamar University for the Port and Terminal Management master’s program and has partnered with Lamar University’s Center for Advances in Port Management to support port-focused graduate education. He has also served in advisory roles connected to port and maritime education, including the Port of the Future initiative.
Kalhagen is a frequent speaker and contributor on maritime infrastructure, port competitiveness, project cargo, freight mobility, and the evolving role of ports in global supply chains. His speaking engagements include JOC Breakbulk and Breakbulk Future Thinkers initiative, where he has shared perspectives on the future of maritime infrastructure, port land use, collaboration, digitalization, and long-term logistics trends.
Recognized as an authoritative voice at the intersection of private maritime industry and public port management, Kalhagen is known for building consensus among public agencies, private-sector partners, ports, industry associations, and academic institutions. His work emphasizes practical collaboration, infrastructure investment, operational resilience, and strategic planning to position ports and maritime transportation systems for long-term competitiveness.
Kalhagen holds an MBA from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science from the University of South Alabama. He has also earned a U.S. Coast Guard Limited Master credential and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Han Deng
Han Deng is a partner in Reed Smith’s global transportation industry group, based in New York.
Han is a key member of the firm’s leading ship finance team, focusing on cross-border and domestic asset finance. She has experience representing major financial institutions, owners, lessors, and operators in connection with debt finance transactions, including syndicated and bilateral secured loan facilities, export credit agency (ECA)-backed loan facilities, leasing, workouts, debt restructurings, and related collateral exercises. Han also has experience representing equity investors and other parties in cross-border and domestic corporate and commercial transactions involving shipping, including joint ventures, private equity, vessel sale and purchase, vessel construction programs, and other similar transactions, often involving New York, Delaware, Liberian, and Marshall Islands legal advice.
A regular speaker on the global maritime conference circuit, Han has also been part of teams recognized by leading maritime publication Marine Money several times, with Ship Finance Deals of the Year for 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2025 in the areas of Restructuring and ECA, and most recently Jones Act.
Han is a member of the Reed Smith’s New York office Recruiting Committee and Asian-American Business Inclusion Group, and a member of the Board of Advisory Editors of Tulane Maritime Law Journal. She approaches her work with the same curiosity and passion as she does life, reflecting her constant desire to learn. Away from the office, she enjoys traveling, sailing, arts, classical music, post-rock, soccer, and food. Han is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese.
Heon Lee
Founder, CEO of Philyron backed by Andreessen Horowitz's Speedrun. CS and Polisci at UMich, served in the Korea army, researched ship building and supply chain at Korean congress and Stanford.
John Stauffer
CAPT John Stauffer is the Associate Vice Chancellor for San Jacinto College Maritime Campus where he oversees both the credit and noncredit maritime programs. John’s responsibilities included educational leadership and administrative management of all training and educational programs at the maritime campus.
Prior to joining San Jacinto College John served as the President at Maritime Institute where he was the day-to-day leader of one of the largest maritime training companies in the United States. John’s responsibilities include educational leadership and administrative management of over 100 U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and GWO approved courses in Norfolk, San Diego, Alameda, Honolulu, and Guam.
John served for 22 years as an Army Warrant Officer concluding his career as the Chief of the Maritime Operations Branch in Virginia where he provided operational guidance for the training of Army maritime professionals. During John’s 22 years of honorable service he deployed three times to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom earning numerous awards and recognition to include the Bronze Star.
John Stauffer earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University and his MBA from Liberty University. John is from Pittsburgh, PA and has been happily married to his high school sweetheart Melissa for 29 years. John and Melissa have two adult daughters Alli and Ashley Stauffer. John enjoys running, golfing, traveling and serving his community.
Jacqueline Young
Jacquie Young has served as Port Houston's Maritime Workforce Development Program Manager since 2017. In this role, she focuses on education and workforce initiatives for youth and young adults interested in maritime, logistics, and other port-related careers, passionately connecting students and parents with the vast opportunities within the Greater Houston Port Region.
As the key liaison for Maritime Education and Workforce Development in the region, Jacquie bridges industry, academic, and business partners. She actively shapes curriculum and career pathways by holding key seats on numerous CTE, post-secondary, and industry advisory boards. She also serves as the Board Chair for the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
With over 25 years of experience, Jacquie is a seasoned professional who has built deep expertise in workforce development, career education, non-profit management, and community engagement.
She shapes the next generation of talent by engaging 10,000+ K-12 and 500+ university students annually — a passion that drives her purpose.
Jim Watson
Jonathan Chia
Steve Brock is Strategic Counsel to the USA Shipbuilding Coalition as well as CoFounder and Managing Partner of the strategic advisory firm Del Toro Global
Associates and Co-Founder and President of SymbioScape Strategies. In
government, he most recently served in a White House appointment as Senior
Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy from April 2022 to January 2025. He is a
retired U.S. Navy Captain and has served in multiple capacities within the U.S.
Navy, the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and
the private sector. Before returning to government, he served as Senior Advisor to
the Council on Strategic Risk, as senior adjunct at RAND Corporation, and on the
advisory board of water technology company, 374 Water.
Steve served at the National Security Council during the Obama Administration as
Director for Asia Security Affairs and Director for Australia, New Zealand and the
Pacific Islands. He also co-chaired, with White House Council on Environmental
Quality Chair, the Interagency Policy Committee for the strategic rebalance to the
Asia-Pacific. At the Pentagon, he served as Chief of Staff of the Chairman Joint
Chief’s ISR Activity, and as Deputy Director for Intelligence (DDI) at the Joint
Staff and Operations/Intelligence Briefer for Defense Secretary Panetta. Captain
Brock served in several senior capacities in the deployed Joint Force and the Fleet
including N2, Assistant Chief of Staff (Information Dominance) for Strike Group
Eleven (NIMITZ Strike Group), Officer in Charge of DOD Field Operating Base
Europe – Berlin, and Senior Analyst for the United States Seventh Fleet.
He also served as a Military Advisor to Ambassador Holbrooke and Ambassador
Negroponte at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Additional
assignments were at the Office of Naval Intelligence and with NATO’s Combined
Air Operations Center for operations in the former Yugoslavia.
Steve was a Federal Executive Fellow at RAND. He is a 1990 graduate of the U.S.
Naval Academy (Marine Engineering with Merit) and is a distinguished graduate
of master degree programs at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service
and the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School. As a Naval Officer, he
was a recipient of the Admiral Edwin Layton Inspirational Leadership Award. As
a member of the Senior Executive Service, he received the highest civilian honor
the Secretary of the Navy can bestow.
He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the US Japan Foundation, as well as a Senior Advisor to The Asia Group.
Mark Johnson
Deputy Administrator
Maritime Administration (MARAD)
U.S. Department of Transportation
Colonel Mark D. Johnson, U.S. Air Force (retired), is the deputy administrator of the Maritime
Administration (MARAD) at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Prior to joining MARAD, Mark Johnson served as the U.S. air attaché to Thailand beginning in
September 2020. During his time at the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, he also served as the defense
attaché, chief of operations and C-12 instructor pilot.
He graduated cum laude from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1996 with a third
mate’s license. Entering active duty, he attended navigator training and flew the KC-135. He
attended pilot training and following 9-11 flew the B-1 bomber. He deployed several times in
support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as an aircraft commander, flight
safety officer, assistant director of operations and instructor pilot. He was later selected to lead
B-1 distributed mission operations and facilitate advances in B-1 operational training.
Mark Johnson later served as chief of the Bomber/Airlift Standards and Evaluations Branch, and
subsequently as deputy/acting chief of standards and evaluations for 12th Air Force
headquarters, where he was responsible for maintaining standards across 12th Air Force and Air
Forces Southern. Transitioning to a role as an air liaison officer and tactical air control party
member, he became director of operations for the 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron in
Alaska. He then commanded the 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron in
Kuwait and served as air operations director and deputy director of joint operations at the Iraq
Joint Operations Center in Baghdad at the start of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Upon returning to the United States, he was named deputy director of operations for 8th Air
Force in Louisiana, supporting global bomber operations including assurance and deterrence
missions through the Bomber Task Force. As the Air Force Global Precision Attack Core
Function Team chief at Air Combat Command, he led the development of the Air Force's largest
combat aircraft and weapons portfolio, valued at $20 billion annually.
Mark Johnson is a command pilot with more than 600 combat hours in support of Operations
Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. His top decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak
leaf clusters, Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf
cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf
cluster.
He earned a Master of Business Administration in international business, graduating summa cum
laude from Touro University International, and is a graduate of the Air War College. Returning
to his maritime roots, he has volunteered as a licensed officer of the watch on medical ships in
the Southwestern Pacific, delivering medical personnel and supplies to remote villages in Papua
New Guinea.
Mark and his wife, Vanessa, live in Virginia. They have four sons, three of whom also graduated
or study at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Their sons frequently visit while pursuing
careers as marine engineers, sailing on their licenses, or serving on active duty.
Nate Sauder
Nate Sauder is a Venture Partner at Mare Liberum Capital, which invests in companies rebuilding the U.S. maritime and industrial base, including Saronic, Hadrian, REGENT, and Windward. Before Mare Liberum, he founded an AI forecasting company that built core supply-chain AI systems for Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Department of Defense. Earlier, he was chief scientist at Enlitic, one of the first companies to apply modern AI to medical diagnostics. He began his career studying mathematics and physics at the University of Chicago and Oxford before moving into AI research in 2014.
Nick Primrose
Nick Primrose is Special Counsel at Jones Walker LLP. He advises clients on legal, regulatory, and public-policy issues in maritime, transportation, logistics, infrastructure, and economic development, including emerging technologies such as advanced air mobility and autonomous freight. He previously served as Deputy General Counsel to two Florida governors and as General Counsel of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He later served as the Jacksonville Port Authority’s first Chief of Regulatory Compliance, handling maritime, commercial, environmental, risk-management, and government-affairs matters. He serves on the SelectFlorida Board of Directors and chairs its Gateways Advisory Council. He is also Chair of the St. Augustine Airport Authority and a Trustee of the St. Johns River State College District Board of Trustees.
Patrice Brossard
Patrice Broussard is the General Manager of GTT North America, leading the development of LNG containment and storage solutions for marine and onshore applications. With more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry, he has held senior leadership positions across business development, project execution, and operations with organizations including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Vallourec, and private equity-backed companies.
A mechanical engineer and PMP-certified professional, Patrice has extensive expertise in LNG, cryogenics, and large-scale energy infrastructure projects. Originally from France and based in Houston, Texas, he brings a global perspective shaped by an international career. He is passionate about driving innovation, building strategic partnerships, and advancing the growth of the LNG industry.
Rachel McCloskey
Rachel McCloskey serves as Chief Operating Officer of SHIPPINGInsight and is a founding member of the American Maritime Industrial Coalition (AMIC). In her role with SHIPPINGInsight, she supports the organization’s day-to-day operations and works across the team to coordinate programming, communications, partnerships, and strategic initiatives. She plays a key role in bringing SHIPPINGInsight’s events and programs together, working with industry leaders, speakers, partners, and stakeholders to create meaningful opportunities for collaboration and conversation across the maritime industry.
Rachel brings a strong background in operations, project management, communications, and relationship building to her work. She is skilled at taking complex projects from concept to execution, coordinating across multiple stakeholders, and ensuring that the details behind an event or initiative come together effectively.
In addition to her work with SHIPPINGInsight, Rachel serves as Chief Operating Officer of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), where she supports the organization’s programs, communications, partnerships, and strategic initiatives focused on protecting the marine environment and strengthening connections across the maritime community.
A graduate of Sacred Heart University, Rachel has built her career around bringing people, ideas, and projects together. Outside of her professional work, she spends her summers sailing, a passion she began pursuing professionally at a young age. Her lifelong connection to the water continues to shape her perspective and involvement in the maritime industry.
Rafael Riva
Rafael Riva is Vice President, North America Business Development, at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). He joined ABS in Houston in September 2026.
Previously, Riva was Vice President of Client Relations at International Registries, Inc. (IRI), administrator of the corporate and maritime registries of the Marshall Islands. Based in Houston, he worked with executive leadership to establish a global commercial function and business processes. He also served as a Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs for IRI.
Before joining IRI, Riva spent nearly 19 years in management, business development, and technical roles at another class society. Specializing in LNG and LPG, he held positions in London, Shanghai and New York to support the organization’s strategic interests and business development. In 2020, he was promoted to Vice President of Commercial Operations Americas, overseeing commercial teams throughout the Americas, including projects involving offshore wind and gas.
Riva holds an MSc in Naval Architecture from the Technical University of Madrid in Spain and studied at the Technical University of Denmark. He is a qualified Chartered Engineer and a member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, the Spanish Association of Naval Architects, and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).
Randy Giveans
Randy Giveans was appointed Chief Investor Relations Officer and EVP of Business Development in March 2026 after four years as Executive Vice President of Navigator Gas US and Head of Investor Relations and Business Development in North America. Prior to joining Navigator, Mr. Giveans was the Senior Analyst and Group Head of the Energy Maritime Shipping Equity Research Group and a Senior Vice President at Jefferies. He covered 32 energy maritime shipping companies that transport crude oil, refined petroleum products, LNG, LPG, dry bulk commodities, and containers. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, he was named to Institutional Investor's (I.I.) All-America Research Team, and in 2018, he was named an Institutional Investor All-America Research "Rising Star." In 2021, Mr. Giveans was a Top 5 stock picker across all sector analysts according to TipRanks, and in 2018, he was ranked as the #1 Stock Picker for Shipping in the Thomson Reuters Analyst Awards. Prior to joining Jefferies in 2011, he worked as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Corporate Finance department at Continental/United Airlines. Mr. Giveans received a Bachelor of Science in Finance/Economics from Spring Hill College and an MBA in Finance with an Energy Specialization from the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.
Congressman Randy Weber
Congressman Randy Weber is a public servant, proven conservative, former small business owner, and third-generation Texan representing the 14th District of Texas.
In Congress, he serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has the broadest jurisdiction of any legislative committee in Congress. Weber also serves on the Science, Space and Technology. He previously served on the House Foreign Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
For over 70 years, Randy Weber has called the Gulf Coast home - a place to start a family and build a business. Although juggling work and family takes great amounts of time and effort, Weber makes time to be an active member of his church and community. Weber built his air conditioning company, Weber’s Air & Heat, in 1981 from scratch.
Prior to being elected to Congress, Weber served four years in the Texas State House. During his tenure, Weber served on the committees of Environmental Regulation, Public Education, and as Vice Chair of Border and Intergovernmental Affairs. While serving in the Texas House, Randy Weber authored landmark legislation to combat human trafficking and protect women, young girls, and boys - some as young as 12 years old.
Weber has lived in a 20-mile radius all his life and has been married to Brenda Weber, a retired schoolteacher, for nearly 50 years. He is a graduate of Alvin Community College and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. Randy and Brenda have three children, eight wonderful grandchildren, and two precious great-granddaughters.
Rey Trevino III
Rey (“RT”) Treviño III serves as President of Pecos Energy and Director of Operations at Pecos Country Operating, overseeing all operational, engineering, fundraising, and management functions of both firms. As a 2nd-generation oilman, RT has worked in a variety of positions, from field hand to director. As well as working daily within the oil and gas industry, RT has a growing, industry-focused podcast called THE CRUDE TRUTH where he sits down with other industry experts and shares all the great things oil and gas provides the world. Some of the guests include industry experts, top political leaders, and Texas Railroad Commissioners, who are key leaders in the Texas oil and gas space. RT also serves as the President of Pecos Valley Operating. He is the proud father of a handsome son and has a B.A. in Organizational Development from the University of North Texas. RT recently earned his Energy M.B.A from Texas Christian University. RT has overseen the drilling, testing, and completion of over 100 wells and has years of industry experience. As he and his family run a family oil company in Fort Worth, Texas, they like to say, "We produce oil, not just drill oil wells."
Rich Byrnes
Rich Byrnes is a global executive and creative leader with a passion for improving business and developing people. He has a track record of building organizations and leading diverse teams to solve complex management and technical challenges. A maritime and energy advocate, Rich advises organizations on business strategy and infrastructure.
Rich is President and Board Director with the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition, a group of 100 organizations focused on accelerating innovation and efficiencies to lower costs and emissions in North American Shipping. Previously he was Chief Infrastructure Officer at Port Houston for 10 years, where he oversaw capital programs as well as environmental, sustainability and grants programs. Preceding that, he was Vice President for Business and Technical Consulting at two global public oilfield service companies and a management consulting partner.
Rich’s career spans executive management, engineering, operations and consulting across transportation, supply chain, ports, shipbuilding, upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas and the public sector. He started his career wintering over and managing logistics and supply chain at the South Pole, Antarctica, then became an oilfield engineer in Saudi Arabia and Syria. Later, Rich consulted with international and national oil companies, ports, transportation and shipping companies, shipbuilding and government clients world-wide.
Rich also chairs the entrepreneurship focused youth career development non-profit STEME.org, advises the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and Houston Energy Leadership Cohort (HELC), is an adjunct professor of management at UMGC and former faculty on leadership at Texas A&M.
Rich holds two master’s degrees from MIT, one in Ocean Systems Management and another in Technology and Policy; and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from UC Santa Barbara.
Ryan Cook
Ryan Cook is the Chief Operating Officer of Valstad Shipworks Inc., bringing more than a decade of experience across the maritime industry in both technical and operational roles. A graduate of SUNY Maritime College with a degree in Naval Architecture, Ryan has built his career around understanding vessels from design through real-world performance.
He began his career working on small, high-performance craft at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) Combatant Craft Division, developing a strong technical foundation in advanced vessel design, systems, and operations. He later expanded his experience working on large commercial ships at Maersk Line Limited and with United States Marine Management Inc., gaining valuable knowledge of global fleet management & operations, large ship design and shipyard management.
This breadth of experience - from specialized craft to commercial shipping and fleet operations - gives Ryan a holistic perspective on shipbuilding and maritime operations. As COO, he leverages that comprehensive view to drive operational excellence, aligning engineering, production, and strategy to deliver complex vessels efficiently and effectively.
Ryan Lynch
Ryan Lynch is a maritime executive and industrial-policy economist focused on the advancement and resilience of the maritime-industrial base. His experience spans commodity trading, ship management, shipbuilding, infrastructure capital, economic security and maritime sovereignty.
As Managing Partner of Maritime OIC, he advises investors and policy makers on allied maritime and shipbuilding capabilities. His firm’s investment efforts seek to empower the nuanced system understanding needed to rebuild American maritime adventures. A fourth-generation American maritime advocate, he holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and a master’s in applied economics from the American University.
Sang Yi
Stephen Carmel
Stephen Carmel: Stephen M. Carmel is the Administrator of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Before joining MARAD, Mr. Carmel was the President of US Marine Management, LLC (USMMI). US Marine Management was formally a division of Maersk Line Limited, where, prior to the spin-off to Maritime Partners, Mr. Carmel was Senior Vice President responsible for the USMMI business unit. USMMI operates a variety of ship types, including tankers, Roll-on / Roll-off vessels, and military special- purpose ships. Prior to this position, Mr. Carmel headed technical operations for MLL.
He previously held positions in operations and finance for U.S. Marine Management, Inc. and Maersk Line, Limited. Mr. Carmel began his career sailing as a deck officer and Master primarily on tankers.
Mr. Carmel graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1979. He also holds an M.A. in Economics and an M.B.A. in International Finance from Old Dominion University and is PhD/ABD in International Studies with an emphasis in International Political Economy and second emphasis in Conflict. He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and is also certified in Financial Management (CFM). He is also a graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business Advanced Management Program. Steve’s research and publishing interests are in maritime security, globalization, trade and conflict, and arctic regional issues.
Mr. Carmel recently rotated off a position with the Naval Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences. He is a former member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel, the Marine Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, and the NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel, and he was a 2009 Senior Fellow at the Homeland Security Policy Institute at The George Washington University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Global Affairs Council and is a past member of the Board of Visitors at the US Merchant Marine Academy.
Steve was awarded the Meritorious Public Service Award by the Chief of Naval Operations in 2017.
Steve, his wife Alison, and their son John live in Norfolk, Virginia.
Stephen Hollingshead
Dr. Stephen Hollingshead is CEO of ChangeInEx, Inc., a regtech company that improves and extends property rights governance through technology, and an international special jurisdictions consultant. He created the Secured Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) model for investment in post-conflict environments, and his work has taken him across the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. He is an authority on Trump Zones and Maritime Prosperity Zones (MPZs).
His zone work rests on one idea: Property rights—identity, title, and exchange—create jobs even in tough spots. For MPZs, that means regulatory framework agreements with property rights administration that empowers investors and builders for organic economic growth. Shipyards and ports break ground faster when the rules are known up front and compliance is verified in real time, rather than negotiated permit by permit.
A Texas entrepreneur and former federal regulator, Hollingshead served in the Bush Administration as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement. He is Chairman of the Center for American Interests and Policy and Managing Director of the deregulatory consultancy Candor LLC. He has written on permitting reform and economic zones in The Washington Times, The Hill, Townhall, and The Daily Caller, among others.
Vincent DiCosimo
Vincent DiCosimo, has served as an officer of Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE S&P 500) since
the acquisition of his company, Coast Energy Group LLC, in December of 2010. Prior to his
current role as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Mr. DiCosimo was Senior Vice
President of Targa Petroleum Logistics.
Over his long career, Mr. DiCosimo previously served as founder and CEO of Coast Energy
LLC and Cornerstone Propane, a midstream oil and gas company, where after significant
growth, he co-lead an IPO on NYSE as a MLP. A bit of a serial entrepreneur, he was also
founder and CEO of Pipestem Energy Group and founder and CEO of RedMeteor LLC. Mr.
DiCosimo has M&A of over $30 billion in career.
Mr. DiCosimo is active on many boards and associations. He is currently Chairman of the
Greater Houston Port Bureau. The chairman of the Gas Processing Association (GPA)
Legislative Committee. Serves as Director and secretary of International Liquids Terminal
Association, as a representative to Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA) , a Director of
the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA) , director of Texas Oil and Gas Association
(TXOGA) and the TXOGA PAC board and directs Targa’s state and Federal PACs.
He also represents Targa on the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Greater Houston
Partnership Economic Committee, North Dakota Petroleum Council, as a Director of the
New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) and the Petroleum Alliance.
He is the immediate past Chairman of Texas Pipeline Association.
In addition, he has severed as Past Chairman of the Sugar Land Texas Tax Increment
Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. One, a founding member of St. Laurence Catholic Church,
and founding school board member of St. Laurence Catholic School Sugar Land.
He has also served as a past Director of PERC (the Propane Education and Research
Council) and Executive Director of the Coalition for a Fair and Open Port.
Mr. DiCosimo graduated with honors from West Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Public
Administration and attended the University of Houston for post graduate studies. He began
his energy career with Union Oil of California.
He and Francine, will celebrated their 40th anniversary last year, have three grown
children, reside in Houston and attend St. Theresa Catholic Church.
William Barrere
Captain Willie Barrere is National President of American Maritime Officers, the largest union of United States Coast Guard licensed Merchant Marine officers in the nation, representing 3,300 active sailing mariners. Previously, Willie served as National Executive VP leading contract negotiation and management of the collective bargaining agreements. He started shoreside as AMO’s West Coast Representative after 32 years at sea in 2016.
A graduate with an unlimited Third Mate license from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Willie became USMMA’s first Superintendent’s Liaison before joining Military Sealift Command. He was one of the initial officers hired by Maersk Line, Limited at the inception of the shipping giant’s U.S.-flag operation in 1984. He quickly progressed up the ranks, becoming one of the youngest captains in the fleet’s history. As captain, Barrere sailed for Maersk and Crowley for 27 years moving goods all over the globe.
Captain Barrere particularly shined in his service to the military, being entrusted with many important missions. His missions included delivery of military cargo for conflicts in Afghanistan and Bosnia, and performing a nighttime tactical withdrawal of U.S. Army assets out of Mogadishu.
Captain Barrere has dedicated his professional life to promoting the U.S. maritime industry and to improving the lives of all mariners. He was recently awarded the 2025 Outstanding Friend of Seafarers by Seafarers International House for his consistent efforts.
May 20th Speakers
Dr. Beatriz Canamary
Dr. Beatriz Canamary advises maritime, port, and infrastructure leaders on complex deal structuring, operational turnarounds, and scaling innovation in legacy industries. She specializes in constraint-based strategy—identifying the systemic bottlenecks that prevent pilots from reaching commercial scale and structuring partnerships to de-risk long-term investments.
With 20 years of executive experience in port and infrastructure operations, Dr. Canamary held senior roles at a $6.5 billion steel and port complex and co-negotiated a landmark joint venture with the Port of Rotterdam, structuring partnership terms and multi-stakeholder coalitions through deal close.
She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration focused on sustainability in the U.S. port industry, a Certificate in Mergers & Acquisitions from Harvard Business School, and degrees in Civil Engineering. She is the founder of SuRe Strategy Group, serves as Chair of the Innovation and Workforce Development Committee for the Floating Economy Institute, and is an Adjunct Professor in Engineering and Business Analytics at Florida Polytechnic University.
Carleen Lyden Walker
Carleen Lyden Walker is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) leveraging off her experience as a marketing and communications professional in the commercial maritime industry with over 40 years of experience. She specializes in identifying, developing and implementing strategic marketing and communications programs that increase the visibility and effectiveness of NAMEPA as well as the development of educational resources promoting marine environment protection. She works to develop strategic alliances between industry, regulators, conservation groups and educators to “Save Our Seas”.
In 2015, Ms. Lyden Walker was appointed an Ambassador by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). She is a member of WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association), the Connecticut Maritime Association, the Marine Society of the City of New York, The National Press Club, WIMAC (Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean) and is a Past-President of the Propeller Club Chapter of the Port of NY/NJ. She was also elected to the Board of Trustees of the Coast Guard Foundation, the Tall Ships America Foundation, New York Harbor Foundation and the New Era Academy Transportation Technologies Program in Baltimore. She was recently named one of the top 100 women in shipping globally.
Ms. Lyden Walker is also Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Marketing & Communications, is Chief Evolution Officer of SHIPPINGInsight, Founder of CARIBMEPA and the Co-Founder/Executive Director of the Consortium for International Maritime Heritage. In 2010, she was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the United States Coast Guard and in 2014 a Public Service Commendation for her work on World Maritime Day and AMVER, respectively. Ms. Lyden Walker graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Political Science and History (minor in Economics), studied Accounting at Cornell School of Business Administration and is a trained facilitator and media trainer. She held a USCG Captain’s license.
Darren Shelton
Darren Shelton currently serves as Vice President for Moran Shipping Agencies.
Previously, he managed offices in the US Gulf before leading Moran’s Quality Systems and Voyage Data teams. With nearly 30 years of experience in the maritime industry, he’s a frequent speaker at shipping, energy and startup conferences. Darren is Chairman Emeritus of the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee which represents 800+ stakeholders on Texas ship channels, received a commendation from the United States Coast Guard for his leadership, in addition to being recognized on the floors of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives for service to his community. He is an ambassador for Informa Markets’ Seatrade Maritime Club and Eyesea.
In 2018 he envisioned a blockchain startup for the energy sector which led to his co-founding FuelTrust, an AI driven software company that follows commodities through their lifecycles for supply chain solutions.
Darren is an EMBA candidate at the University of East London, adding to his studies at Stephen F. Austin State University and an honorary degree from Alvin Community College where he also presently serves on their Board of Regents.
David Walker
David Walker: David Walker is a Vice President, Global Government Services at ABS. He is responsible for helping ABS fulfill its not-for-profit mission to serve the public interest as well as the needs of our members and clients by promoting the security of life and property, and preserving the natural environment.
ABS Global Government Services focuses on the needs of government clients with military or other public fleets as well as research, development, and demonstration programs that ABS undertakes with government agencies on a wide range of maritime innovation topics, including clean energy in the maritime domain and decarbonization of maritime operations.
Beatriz Canamary: Dr. Beatriz Canamary advises maritime, port, and infrastructure leaders on complex deal structuring, operational turnarounds, and scaling innovation in legacy industries. She specializes in constraint-based strategy—identifying the systemic bottlenecks that prevent pilots from reaching commercial scale and structuring partnerships to de-risk long-term investments.
With 20 years of executive experience in port and infrastructure operations, Dr. Canamary held senior roles at a $6.5 billion steel and port complex and co-negotiated a landmark joint venture with the Port of Rotterdam, structuring partnership terms and multi-stakeholder coalitions through deal close.
She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration focused on sustainability in the U.S. port industry, a Certificate in Mergers & Acquisitions from Harvard Business School, and degrees in Civil Engineering. She is the founder of SuRe Strategy Group, serves as Chair of the Innovation and Workforce Development Committee for the Floating Economy Institute, and is an Adjunct Professor in Engineering and Business Analytics at Florida Polytechnic University.
Dr. Elspeth McMahon
Elspeth McMahon, PhD, is Old Dominion University (ODU)’s inaugural Associate Vice President for Maritime Initiatives. She has over twenty years of dynamic experience in the commercial, military, and education sectors of the maritime industry. McMahon is currently a Commander in the United States Navy Reserves and has extensive experience working for Military Sealift Command as a Strategic Sealift Officer. She also holds an active United States Coast Guard Chief Mate Unlimited Tonnage License and has sailed commercially for Maersk Lines, Limited.
With a passion for maritime education and training, she spent almost a decade as an Assistant Professor in the Marine Transportation Department at the State University of New York Maritime College. There, she educated the next generation of licensed deck officers, teaching everything from Leadership to Ship Stability and Cargo Operations. McMahon holds an undergraduate degree in Marine Transportation from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a master’s degree in International Transportation Management from the State University of New York Maritime College, a master’s degree in Maritime and Air Transport Management from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and a doctoral degree in Nautical Sciences from the University of Antwerp. McMahon is a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Transportation Research Board (TRB) Marine Board; on the board of directors for the Virginia Maritime Association; and board member of the Nauticus Museum and Battleship Wisconsin. In 2025, she received the Propeller Club, Port of Norfolk’s inaugural Wavemaker Award, and was selected as Coastal Virginia Business Magazine’s 150 Most Influential People in Coastal Virginia (2025, 2026) and Top 25 Women on the Leading Edge (2026). As AVP for Maritime Initiatives, McMahon collaborates across all maritime sectors and advances the university's maritime related programs, research, industry partnership and outreach. Under her leadership, ODU was designated a Maritime Administration (MARAD) Center of Excellence (CoE) for Maritime Workforce Training and Education in 2024.
Stephen Carmel
Stephen Carmel: Stephen M. Carmel is the Administrator of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Before joining MARAD, Mr. Carmel was the President of US Marine Management, LLC (USMMI). US Marine Management was formally a division of Maersk Line Limited, where, prior to the spin-off to Maritime Partners, Mr. Carmel was Senior Vice President responsible for the USMMI business unit. USMMI operates a variety of ship types, including tankers, Roll-on / Roll-off vessels, and military special- purpose ships. Prior to this position, Mr. Carmel headed technical operations for MLL.
He previously held positions in operations and finance for U.S. Marine Management, Inc. and Maersk Line, Limited. Mr. Carmel began his career sailing as a deck officer and Master primarily on tankers.
Mr. Carmel graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1979. He also holds an M.A. in Economics and an M.B.A. in International Finance from Old Dominion University and is PhD/ABD in International Studies with an emphasis in International Political Economy and second emphasis in Conflict. He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and is also certified in Financial Management (CFM). He is also a graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business Advanced Management Program. Steve’s research and publishing interests are in maritime security, globalization, trade and conflict, and arctic regional issues.
Mr. Carmel recently rotated off a position with the Naval Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences. He is a former member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel, the Marine Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, and the NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel, and he was a 2009 Senior Fellow at the Homeland Security Policy Institute at The George Washington University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Global Affairs Council and is a past member of the Board of Visitors at the US Merchant Marine Academy.
Steve was awarded the Meritorious Public Service Award by the Chief of Naval Operations in 2017.
Steve, his wife Alison, and their son John live in Norfolk, Virginia.
Steve Brock
Steve Brock is Strategic Counsel to the USA Shipbuilding Coalition as well as CoFounder and Managing Partner of the strategic advisory firm Del Toro Global
Associates and Co-Founder and President of SymbioScape Strategies. In
government, he most recently served in a White House appointment as Senior
Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy from April 2022 to January 2025. He is a
retired U.S. Navy Captain and has served in multiple capacities within the U.S.
Navy, the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and
the private sector. Before returning to government, he served as Senior Advisor to
the Council on Strategic Risk, as senior adjunct at RAND Corporation, and on the
advisory board of water technology company, 374 Water.
Steve served at the National Security Council during the Obama Administration as
Director for Asia Security Affairs and Director for Australia, New Zealand and the
Pacific Islands. He also co-chaired, with White House Council on Environmental
Quality Chair, the Interagency Policy Committee for the strategic rebalance to the
Asia-Pacific. At the Pentagon, he served as Chief of Staff of the Chairman Joint
Chief’s ISR Activity, and as Deputy Director for Intelligence (DDI) at the Joint
Staff and Operations/Intelligence Briefer for Defense Secretary Panetta. Captain
Brock served in several senior capacities in the deployed Joint Force and the Fleet
including N2, Assistant Chief of Staff (Information Dominance) for Strike Group
Eleven (NIMITZ Strike Group), Officer in Charge of DOD Field Operating Base
Europe – Berlin, and Senior Analyst for the United States Seventh Fleet.
He also served as a Military Advisor to Ambassador Holbrooke and Ambassador
Negroponte at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Additional
assignments were at the Office of Naval Intelligence and with NATO’s Combined
Air Operations Center for operations in the former Yugoslavia.
Steve was a Federal Executive Fellow at RAND. He is a 1990 graduate of the U.S.
Naval Academy (Marine Engineering with Merit) and is a distinguished graduate
of master degree programs at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service
and the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School. As a Naval Officer, he
was a recipient of the Admiral Edwin Layton Inspirational Leadership Award. As
a member of the Senior Executive Service, he received the highest civilian honor
the Secretary of the Navy can bestow.
He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the US Japan Foundation, as well as a Senior Advisor to The Asia Group.
Senator Todd Young (R-IN)
Senator Todd Young represents Hoosiers in the United States Senate. He currently serves on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as the Senate Committees on Finance; Commerce, Science & Transportation; and Small Business & Entrepreneurship.
Todd is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated with honors in 1995 and
accepted a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2000, Todd was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as a Captain.
While serving in the Marines and working as a business consultant, Todd earned an MBA and his law degree. In 2010, he ran for Congress and served three terms representing
Indiana’s 9th District. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016. Since joining the Senate in 2017, Todd has developed a reputation as a conservative problem solver.
Todd married his wife Jenny in 2005 and they worked together at a small law firm in Paoli, Indiana started by Jenny’s great grandfather. Today, they reside in Johnson County, Indiana with their four children: a son, Tucker, and three daughters, Annalise, Abigail and Ava.