TALL SHIPS AMERICA - Key Persons
Captain Aaron Singh has been sailing for the last 25 years on a wide variety of Tall Ships America member and commercial passenger vessels. His love for being on the water began aboard a Sea Scout ship sailing out of City Island in the Bronx, NY. As so many sailors before him, the volunteer program at South Street Seaport Museum introduced him to schooners and subsequently led him to command every vessel that has operated out of South Street Seaport from a 600 passenger high speed ferries to wooden tug boats to Gloucester fishing schooners. In 2010, Captain Singh joined the teaching staff at the New York Harbor School on Governors Island and created a three-year New York State certified Maritime Career and Technical Education Program for Vessel Operations. The program offers hands on practical training in one of the busiest Harbors in the United States. Many students enter the workforce on commercial vessels or choose to attend a Maritime Colleges often pursuing seagoing careers. In addition to his teaching duties, he serves as the school's Waterfront Director overseeing marine operations on Governors Island and the Brooklyn Navy Yard for a variety of historic and modern training vessels. When he's not in the classroom you can find him hiking, biking, sailing and road tripping with his amazing seagoing family.
Admiral Mark Buzby, USN (ret.) served as the Administrator of the United States Maritime Administration ("MARAD") from August 2017 - January 2021. Admiral Buzby started out in the industry at Kings Point, from which he emerged in 1979 with a license as Third Mate and a bachelor's degree. Nearly immediately, he was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. He served as the Commander of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command from 2009 to 2013, and retired from the Navy from that position. In the meantime, he commanded the destroyer USS Carney during its first Persian Gulf deployment. He also commanded Destroyer Squadron 31 as the sea combat commander for the Abraham Lincoln Battle Group during two deployments in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively; the Surface Warfare Officers School Command; and Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. As a junior officer, he served at sea aboard numerous cruisers and destroyers including USS Connole, USS Aries, USS Yorktown, and USS Shiloh, primarily in operations and combat systems billets. In 1985, he was the Atlantic Fleet Junior Officer Shiphandler of the Year. During the Kosovo crisis of 1998-1999, Buzby returned to sea as U.S. 6th Fleet assistant operations officer participating in combat operations as part of NATO's Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. Ashore, Buzby has served on the Navy staff as the Point Defense Anti-Air Warfare section head for Surface Warfare Division and as Aegis Combat System development officer. As a flag officer, Buzby has served on the Navy staff as deputy for Surface Ships, deputy for Surface Warfare and deputy for Expeditionary Warfare. Admiral Buzby is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and in 1991 earned concurrent master's degrees at the U.S. Naval War College and Salve Regina University in Strategic Studies and International Relations, respectively. Admiral Buzby's personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards) and various other unit and campaign awards. Admiral Buzby and his wife, Gina, reside in Norfolk, Virginia. A lifelong yachtsman, Buzby owns Nor'easter, a Grand Banks Eastbay 43 yacht that he sails all around Chesapeake Bay.
Job Titles:
- Membership Coordinator
- Membership Coordinator New Jersey US
Amanda Weischedel joined Tall Ships America as the Membership Coordinator in October 2021. She earned a BS in Marketing and a MBA from Caldwell University with the intention of using her business education to aid non-profits in achieving their goals. During her freshman year of college, she sailed aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater as a deckhand apprentice. There she discovered her love for sailing aboard Tall Ships and their unique programs, merging her experience in teaching with her newfound passion for sailing. When not talking about Tall Ships with friends and strangers, Amanda enjoys finding new shows to watch on Netflix and cooking different dishes from around the world.
On Tuesday, June 9, 1992, a sailboat sailed into Boston Harbor, with a single man at the helm. The captain, 55-year-old Bill Pinkney, had just completed an amazing voyage: he had sailed around the world single-handedly, on a route that took him around the five southern capes, including Cape Horn at the tip of South America, one of the most difficult sailing passages in the world. Altogether, his voyage took him two years from start to finish and covered more than 27,000 miles. When he sailed into Boston Harbor June 9, 1992, after having successfully circumnavigated the globe, he became the first Black man of any nation to sail around the world solo via Cape Horn. Pinkney was on active duty in the Navy from 1956 to 1960 as a hospital corpsman second class and was stationed in Puerto Rico for part of the time. In 1994, he joined the Board of Trustees of the Mystic Seaport Museum. Captain Pinkney took the helm of Amistad, a 129-foot schooner, for its maiden voyage in spring of 2000, and since then has sailed to many ports communicating the issues of respect, freedom, and human rights that underlay the drama connected with the original ship that the Amistad was modeled after. Along with his hometown friend Paul Mixon, they developed the Black Boaters Summit; a gathering of black sailors and would be sailors to bring the joy of sailing to an underserved and uninformed group. Over the years (20) they have introduced more than 5,000 men and women to the sport. Many of the early attendees had have developed new groups that have expanded the reach to others who have now sailed in far flung spots like Croatia, East Africa and the Seychelles. Recognized by President George H.W. Bush, Sr., Lord Mayor of Hobart (Tasmania, Australia), the Premier and President of Bermuda, and Senators Ted Kennedy (MA), Paul Simon (IL), and John F. Kerry (MA). Recipient of an honorary degrees from Becker College; Southern Connecticut State University; Massachusetts Maritime Academy; Chicago Yacht Association Yachtsman of the Year, 1992; Chicagoan of the Year, Chicago Magazine, 1999; Illinois Governor's Distinguished Achievement Award. The George Foster Peabody Award for the Documentary," The Incredible Voyage of Bill Pinkney". The John Southam Award for the autobiography "As Long AS It Takes". The account of his voyage was read into the Congressional record of 102nd Congress by the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Pinkney is a member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. He has recently published a book for Young Readers titled: Sailing Commitment around the world geared for 8 to 12 year olds.
Bruce's passion for the sea was ignited when his Dad and he built a 17' Windmill sailboat in their garage in Orange, Texas while he was in the first and second grade. Today he is Executive Director of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute and is passionate about using his experiences and the sea to help today's youth understand the importance of STEM knowledge and encouraging them to have happy and productive lives. He spent twenty-seven years with Motorola before joining the non-profit world. As a Vice President at Motorola he worked in Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing, Strategic Planning, and Business Development and was based in both the US and Europe. With Bachelors and Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering and an MBA he is well versed in both the technical and business challenges of running an organization. After retiring from Motorola in 2006 he joined the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California where he learned many of the ropes of the tall ship world, first as volunteer coordinator and then as First Mate of Pilgrim and shipwright for both Spirit of Dana Point and Pilgrim. Before joining LAMI on 12/1/2013 he spent two years at the San Diego Maritime Museum as Project Manager in charge of building the tall ship San Salvador, a replica of a 1542 Spanish Galleon. Bruce is a licensed 200-ton captain, he and his wife own a Catalina 320 sailboat, and is a Coxswain in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He serves on the Economic Development and Policy board and is a Board Member of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. He also is an International Trade Academy Advisory Board Member for International Trade Education Programs.
CAPT Turdo is Commanding Officer USCGC EAGLE (WIX 327) and a permanent Cutterman with ten years at sea. Prior afloat assignments include Deck Watch Officer USCGC Forward (WMEC 911) in Portsmouth, Virginia; Executive Officer USCGC Monomoy (WPB 1326) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts; Commanding Officer USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Commanding Officer USCGC Key Biscayne (WPB 1339) in St. Petersburg, Florida; Executive Officer USCGC Eagle (WIX 327) in New London, Connecticut; Commanding Officer USCGC ESCANABA (WMEC 907) in Boston, Massachusetts. Previous assignments ashore include: Command Center Duty Officer at Coast Guard Activities New York; Company Officer at the United States Coast Guard Academy; Staff Officer in the Office of Defense Operations, Coast Guard Headquarters; Chief of Professional Maritime Studies at the United States Coast Guard Academy. CAPT Turdo is a 1997 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Government. He also holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He currently resides in East Lyme, Connecticut with his wife, Wendy, and their two daughters.
Captain Christopher D. Nolan is a Coast Guard veteran and former commanding officer of two cutters, with over 8 years of military sea service in Alaska, California, Maine, and Connecticut. He first interacted with Tall Ships America in 2008 as Operations Officer (Navigator) of USCG Barque Eagle. After getting the tall ships bug and transitioning to the civilian world, he worked as a captain/faculty member and Interim Dean of Academics at Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Ma. His time at SEA has included voyages as captain aboard CORWITH CRAMER and ROBERT C. SEAMANS in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Chris is also the owner and founder of Practical Navigator Training, a Coast Guard approved maritime training provider and a leader in online maritime license training. Chris graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Marine/Environmental Science), and Oregon State University (Fisheries/Wildlife Management). He holds STCW (3000GT) and domestic (1600GRT) maritime master licenses and is the co-author of the latest edition of "Eagle Seamanship: A Manual for Square Rigger Sailing," as well as several navigation training reference manuals. Chris is based in Washington D.C., married to CDR Kellee Nolan (USCG), and his hobbies include celestial navigation, hiking, and cycling.
Job Titles:
- Director of Maritime Operations and Port Captain for the Texas Seaport Museum
Captain Mark Scibinico serves as the Director of Maritime Operations and Port Captain for the Texas Seaport Museum, which is owned and operated by Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF). Mark joined GHF in 2012 and began his time there with the extensive second restoration of ELISSA. Over the last several years, Mark has acted as liaison between GHF, the USCG and ABS that has resulted in ELISSA being recertified as a Sailing School Vessel. In 2018, Mark organized the first ever Galveston Tallship festival, along with the dedicated staff of GHF and Tall Ships America. Mark has over 15 years' experience working on vessels of all types, sailing from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Canadian territories on both coasts of the Americas. Having sailed on everything from dinghies to cruise ships; Barques to brigs; tugs boats to schooners, he has extensive training in traditional sail, volunteer management and regulatory management of passenger and sail training vessels.
Chase is a non-profit administrator with over 30 years in the community arts field. Sailing came late in life but it has become one of her passions. She was active for years with the Black Boaters Summit and is a member of the Universal Sailing Club, Baltimore, MD. She has taken ASA basic sailing courses and has crewed on bare-boat cruises in BVI, the French Polynesian Islands and the Netherlands. While quasi retired, she became a volunteer crew member on the Schooner A J Meerwald out of Port Norris, NJ. That segued into a position with Bayshore Center at Bivalve, the owner and operator of the A J Meerwald. She is currently the executive director of the Ocean City Arts Center in Ocean City, NJ. She is on the steering committee of the Creating Change Network, a program hosted by New Jersey Theatre Alliance and ArtPride New Jersey that aims to build a more equitable, just, and anti-racist arts community in New Jersey. Chase is a member of the Non Profit Professionals of Color Collective and the NJ Arts and Culture Administrators of Color Network. She is also a member of American Association of University Women-Cape May. She graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a BS in Accounting and earned a Certificate in Arts Management from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior positions held were: Managing Director of the Village of Arts & Humanities, Philadelphia and initiating Director of Arts Programs at the country's largest community development corporation, New Community Corporation, Newark, NJ. She has been a participant in two national Ford Foundation initiatives and has maintained a network of cohorts. She is also an accomplished storyteller, producer, director, actor and blues vocalist and founder of ChaseArts, a producing/presenting organization. Chase declares that she has to live near a body of water where you cannot see the other side. She grew up in Norfolk, VA on the Chesapeake and currently lives six blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.. She is always at home on the water. . .
Job Titles:
- SHIPS CHALLENGE® Director Providence, Rhode Island US
Erin Short joined Tall Ships America in 2006 and is the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Director. Over the course of sixteen years, she has helped coordinate over 85 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® maritime events on the Pacific Coast, Atlantic Coast, Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico. Her main role is as liaison between Tall Ships America's Host Port Partners, tall ships fleet, US Coast Guard, city partners and community stakeholders to ensure every event is safe, secure, and successful. Erin is passionate about promoting tall ships, maritime history and our waterfront communities through the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® events and on social media. Erin grew up sailing Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay and has sailed in several of Tall Ships America's member vessels, culminating in a transatlantic voyage. After graduating with a BS in Anthropology from University of Colorado, Boulder, she now lives in Providence where she volunteers at the Gamm Theatre and Providence Preservation Society. When not travelling with the tall ships (and sometimes when she is) Erin is on a quest for the perfect bowl of ramen.
Gary Jobson has enjoyed a long and successful career in boats small and large. He was twice named College Sailor of the Year. He has won many of the world's offshore races, and he was tactician on the winning America's Cup yacht, Courageous, in 1977, with skipper Ted Turner. He started his career as a sailing coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and later at the U.S. Naval Academy. Since then, Jobson has authored 21 books on sailing, narrated or produced 1,200 television programs and films, has given over 2,700 lectures, and has competed in 5,700 races. Jobson spent 31 years with ESPN covering nine America's Cup events and producing many documentaries. He has covered seven Olympics (including the Tokyo 2021 Olympics) and an America's Cup for NBC. For his work in television, Jobson has been presented with two Emmys, four Tellys and an ACE Award. Jobson is currently Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Chair of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Jobson is a Trustee Emeritus at St. Mary's College of Maryland, a committee member of the Friends of St. John's College, and serves on the Fales Committee at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is also a past President of US Sailing, America's governing body of sailing, and Past Vice President of World Sailing. For many years, Jobson has been actively involved with education, environmental issues and healthcare. From 1993-2017 he served as Chair of the Leukemia Cup Regatta Series, which has raised over $60 million. Jobson spent 15 years on the Board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia. In 2012 the Gary Jobson Professorship of Medical Oncology was established at the University of Maryland Medical School for Dr. Aaron Rapoport. (Jobson survived a two-year battle with lymphoma in 2003-04). Jobson was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame (2011) and the America's Cup Hall of Fame (2003) by the Herreshoff Marine Museum. In 1999 he won the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy, US SAILING's most prestigious award. He is a Graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College. He attended Graduate School at CW Post College (Political Science) and was awarded a Doctor of Letters from the State University of New York in 2005, and a Doctor of Humane Letters by Lakeland College in 2013. Gary and his wife, Janice, have three grown daughters and five grandchildren. The Jobsons have lived in Annapolis, Maryland since 1977. Jobson's hobbies include daysailing Whirlwind, his open cockpit sloop, skiing, flyfishing, reading and taking long walks.
Harry Hammond Graves (H2) is an International Environmental Technology Entrepreneur pioneering Fuel Cell GT technology and the Quadfactory Fleet. Fuel Cell GT technology will enable the maritime industry to travel at record speeds with net zero emissions. The Quadfactory Fleet together with Max Wind and Max Solar will enable "Net Zero" and "Paris 1.5" to be delivered early. Mr. Graves has served in various leadership positions at Global Energy and Procter & Gamble. He is also an international competitor in rowing and sailing. A gold medalist and course record holder at the Henley Royal Regatta and Helmsman for the British America's Cup 12 Metre Lionheart K18 in the America's Cup Jubilee in Cowes, England. He has served as a US National Team Coach and Director/Trustee of the National Rowing Foundation.
Job Titles:
- ASTA / Tall Ships America Former Board Member
Jim Kerr is an ASTA/Tall Ships America former Board member whose term expired in 2020. Jim is now fully retired from New York law firm Davis Polk Wardwell. He is a member of the New York, Essex and Castine Yacht Clubs and a member of The Army and Navy Club of Washington and The Century Association. He is President Emeritus of the Morris-Jumel Mansion museum and is an active member and supporter of several historical societies and museums. Jim represented ASTA on a pro bono basis in a successful trademark defense in advance of the tall ship events scheduled for the Millennium. Jim offers a long-standing perspective of sailing, maritime history, Tall Ships America and a legal expertise to support the Board and organizational development efforts.
John Nadeau, Rear Admiral US Coast Guard (ret), currently serves as a senior advisor and maritime consultant to owners and operators of commercial vessels, waterfront facilities, ports, and other maritime stakeholders. His areas of expertise include:
Sustainable shipping, alternative fuels, other novel & contemporary regulatory issues
Regulatory approval for offshore oil/gas/LNG/wind energy exploration, development & production
Corporate safety culture & safety management system assessment & improvement
Compliance strategies for U.S. & international regulations and key stakeholder engagement
Maritime accident & casualty investigations
An accomplished senior leader and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, John successfully led diverse organizations conducting all aspects of marine safety, maritime security, and environmental stewardship. He was the Coast Guard's Senior Executive for all international and national policy, standards, and programs to promote marine safety, maritime security and environmental stewardship. He has accumulated deep technical experience in commercial vessel design, compliance inspections, safety management systems, port state control, casualty investigations, navigation safety, port & facility security, and crisis response. He spearheaded development and implementation of national regulations and policy and, as the Head of the United States' delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), he advanced the US position on updates to SOLAS & MARPOL instruments and major challenges impacting the global maritime community, including the "IMO 2020" fuel oil sulphur cap, cyber risk management, ballast water treatment, autonomous ships, and the Polar Code and the International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code).
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director Newport, Rhode Island US
Kris Von Wald joined Tall Ships America as Executive Director in January 2019. She offers a wealth of experience in organizational development, with a focus on strategic and business planning and leadership development. Kris has worked across the commercial, nonprofit, and public sectors in the United States and the United Kingdom, with specialist expertise in leading transformational change and direct experience in youth development and education. Growing up along the front range in Colorado fostered her keen interest in outdoor pursuits, and she feels fortunate to have the opportunity to combine her education and experience with her life-long interests. She has first-hand experience of the value of learning through outdoor and adventurous activity including a sailing adventure with Hurricane Island Outward Bound, as a leader on a Greenland expedition, and by sailing aboard the Norwegian tall ship CHRISTIAN RADICH. Kris's goal is to build a business model for Tall Ships America that creates a sustainable future built on a solid past, resulting in more resources and opportunities for the entire tall ship community.
Maisa Tisdale has advocated for the preservation of the Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses since 1994 and founded the Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community in 2009 after coordinating a successful movement to save the homes from demolition. Ms. Tisdale led the Freeman Center as a volunteer until 2019 when she became the Center's first professional staff member. Over the past ten years Maisa Tisdale not only focused on the restoration of the Freeman houses but has worked to create a safer and healthier "built" environment in Bridgeport's South End - stressing the importance of historic preservation, community development, environmental justice, and climate change. Maisa Tisdale worked as a private contractor for the US Department of State's Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs (ECA) for many years; and has worked as: Executive Director of The Ocean Classroom (Bridgeport); Assistant Director of Admissions at Fairfield University; and Manager of Sponsorships and Grants at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. Ms. Tisdale's assignments with ECA strongly reinforced her lifelong belief that arts and culture can indeed precipitate lasting and systemic change for the better, between nations and between diverse groups of people. Maisa also completed Professional Mariner Training at Chapman School of Seamanship and served as deckhand and docent, aboard PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II.
Michael Rauworth served on the Board of Tall Ships America for more than 20 years, and completed his service as President and Board Chair in 2021. Mike's long-term service to American Sail Training Association/Tall Ships America has seen the organization through many cycles of change and development through generous contributions of his time, expertise and gifts. Mike has worked as a maritime lawyer in Boston for more than 30 years, following a career at sea amounting to more than 200,000 sea miles. He maintains an unlimited Coast Guard license as Master of Sail, Steam, and Motor Vessels, and as first-class pilot on waters of Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington, serving as master of six commercial vessels and deck officer on fifteen others, ranging from sail training to deep-draft cargo vessels, to tugs and barges, and to military vessels. He served as Commander of U.S. Naval Forces during Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in 1994, and later retired as a Captain from the Coast Guard Reserve after service ranging from icebreaker voyages to both polar icecaps to commanding seven military units. Mike taught marine insurance at Massachusetts Maritime Academy for seven years and is the author of a two-part article on the Jones Act, published in Sea History magazine in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Global Expeditions Group
- Treasurer - Sarasota, FL
Mike Meighan is Executive Director of Global Expeditions Group - ActionQuest, GoBeyond & Sea|mester. Born in the UK, Mike knew he loved marine life, sailboats, and teaching, but his ‘Aha moment' happened in 1995 while training teenagers aboard yachts in the Caribbean for ActionQuest Teen Summer Adventures. A realization that learning while living in dynamic, uncontrived and often unfamiliar environments offers exceptional opportunities for social, emotional and academic growth. Mike has committed his professional career to this end, founding Sea|mester in 1998 and GoBeyond Student Travel in 2001 and eventually Global Expeditions Group as the parent organization in 2005. In 2019 Global Expeditions Group operated over 21,000 student days collectively. Students represented 44 states and 26 countries, sailed over 21,000 nautical miles, earned more than 1,300 scuba certifications, 1,400 academic credits and dedicated more than 15,000 hours to the service of others. Mike remains hands-on with program development, staff training and operations, sailing for three months in the Caribbean each summer with groups of 200 or more. Throughout the rest of the year, he remains active within the industry, serving as a board member for the American Sail Training Association / Tall Ships America. Mike lives in Sarasota, FL with his family.
Nathan joined the Board in 2017. He is the Vice President and General Manager of Moran Philadelphia and Moran Baltimore. Moran Towing is a marine services provider with a reputation for providing industry leading quality, safety and performance. Moran operates over 100 vessels from 16 locations in North America, engaged in harbor tug assist and escort operations as well as bulk marine transportation. At Moran since 2002, Nathan has been deeply involved in efforts to achieve industry leading quality and safety certifications. He is also a member of Moran's Corporate Design Team and Quality Steering Committee. Prior to joining Moran, Nathan was employed as a Merchant Mariner aboard United States Flagged oceangoing ships engaged in international trade. Nathan also served for 14 years as a Reserve Naval Officer. Nathan is a Dual License graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. He maintains current USCG Licensing in both the Deck and Engineering departments, including unlimited and ocean endorsements. Nathan is active in the local Philadelphia port community, currently serving as a Board Member for the Maritime Academy Charter High School, the Ports of Philadelphia Maritime Society. He is also an active member of the Mariner's Advisory Committee. Nathan is an avid aviator and also enjoys sailing with his family.
Job Titles:
- Nicolas Hardisty Program Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator
- Nicolas Hardisty Program Coordinator
Nicolas Hardisty joined Tall Ships America as Program Coordinator in 2019. His work in this position draws largely on his background in sailing and experiential education. He earned an MA in History from Rhode Island College, specializing in African American and Colonial Atlantic history. Prior to this position, Nic worked as an instructor of history at Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College, and was the coordinator for RIC's experiential education program at the Rhode Island State House. Nic's family has been involved in tall ships and sail training for generations, and he is excited to offer his own contributions to the industry. He conducts historical research and analysis in his spare time and has presented articles on African American history, presidential assassinations, and identifying/managing vicarious trauma in historians at numerous conferences throughout the United States. He is a co-founder of the academic collective Global Empire & Resistance Scholarship, serves on the executive council of the New England Regional World History Association, is a member of the COPE° Working Group for Psychological Safety, Bullying & Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector, and is on the board of the Battle of Rhode Island Association. He was married on board the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel in 2021, and recently welcomed his daughter Marigold to the world.
Patti Lock is a career marketing communicator with a focus on event logistics and community partnerships. A former sports agent and concert producer, Patti has extensive festival and event production experience and has specialized in the promotion of tall ships since 1998 when Tall Ships America launched its first efforts to bring the tall ships into the Great Lakes. Patti was working at Navy Pier at the time and was instrumental in the development of Tall Ships® Chicago - an event that has now happened 8 times between 1998 and 2016. She was TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Director for Tall Ships America from 2008 - 2014, when she transitioned over to Director, Special Projects to focus on port development, logistics and community involvement. In June 2018, Patti left Tall Ships America as a staff member but remained involved assisting new TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® port cities. In the past 20 years promoting ships, ship programs and sail training, she has helped develop many cities host the fleet for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE®. These include Savannah, GA, Portland, ME, Jacksonville, FL, Galveston, TX, Pensacola, FL; returning series regulars such as Chicago and Cleveland; new 2019 ports, Buffalo, NY and Kenosha, WI; and in 2018 Tall Ships® New Orleans 2018, a massive 18-month undertaking to bring six tall ships down the Mississippi to New Orleans for their tricentennial celebration. A US Coast Guard Auxiliarist from Flotilla 36-06 Wilmette Harbor, IL for fifteen years, Patti is a long-time advocate for fresh-water conservation, better environmental practices and the preservation of bee and butterfly habitats. When she is not promoting education under sail, Patti enjoys her time as a member of the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights, IL, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, and is a former Board Director for the Metropolis Performing Arts Center, also in Arlington Heights, IL.
Pete Tebeau brings to the Board over fifty years of experience as a maritime professional and marine educator. Upon graduation from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, he served 22 years on active duty in the Coast Guard in assignments focusing on Arctic operations, pollution prevention, response & enforcement, and marine environmental technology R&D. Upon retirement, he embarked on a 25-year career as a maritime consultant working on projects for government, academia and private industry in the areas of oceanography, marine technology, maritime operations and marine environmental protection. Pete holds undergraduate degrees from the Coast Guard Academy and Florida International University, and masters degrees in Physical Oceanography from the University of Miami and Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. Since 2003, he has undertaken a career in science education, teaching physical sciences at the high school level at Stonington High School, and teaching oceanography, meteorology and marine environmental protection at the Coast Guard Academy. He has Connecticut State Teacher Certifications for Earth Science, Physics and General Science for Grades 7-12. In addition to classroom teaching, he has worked with youth as a rowing coach at both Stonington High School and CGA. Pete's sailing experience includes three summers on Tall Ship USCGC EAGLE, as well as recreational sailboat voyages in the Caribbean and Puget Sound, and numerous afternoon sails on his own sloop. His current aspiration is to continue teaching marine and maritime science in both formal and informal settings to promote youth engagement & development and ocean stewardship.
Captain Sarah Armour serves as the captain of Schooner Brilliant, the flagship sail training vessel of Mystic Seaport Museum. She sits on the board of directors for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, where she also sails as relief captain. Sarah has spent the last decade working in youth sail training, traditional sail, and experiential education. In addition to Brilliant and Clearwater, Sarah has sailed aboard SSV Geronimo, Pride of Baltimore II, , and Lady Maryland, and Schooner Rebecca. She has a degree in Earth Systems Science from Cornell University, where she focused on applied ecology, sustainable agriculture, and environmental education.
Simon Colley has over twenty years of expertise in designing and delivering high-impact learning experiences. He is the founder of Trust Labs-a company that provides experiential leadership programs for leading global law firms, with a focus on trust and culture. Prior to Trust Labs, Simon held VP roles with two Boston-area tech start-ups in the blockchain and ed-tech spaces. While at the latter, he led the development and implementation of a scalable train-the-trainer program for the Saudi Ministry of Labor, enabling the rollout of a nationwide blended-learning initiative to empower Saudi women to enter the workforce. Simon previously served as the Director of Operations and Senior Captain for the Spirit of Bermuda, as Captain of the tall ships Tole Mour, Roseway and Lettie G Howard, and in various roles with Sea Education Association and Ocean Classroom, amongst others. His experience also includes over a decade with Outward Bound as a curriculum developer, program manager, and lead instructor. Simon currently sits on the boards of Courageous Sailing and Tall Ships America. He lives in Hingham Massachusetts with his wife Caitlin, also an experienced tall ship officer, and their two adventurous little boys. Simon holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, a BEd from the University of Western Sydney, and a BS in Marine Biology from James Cook University. He also holds a USCG Captains license, for vessels up to 1600 tons, upon oceans.
Captain Stefan Edick is a lifelong sailor who began his professional career in sailing ships in 1993. Issued his first Captain's license in 1996, he has held command of a dozen traditional vessels, including the schooners William H. Albury, Lettie G. Howard, Westward, Spirit of Massachusetts, Harvey Gamage, Amistad, Virginia, Lynx, and Adventure. In addition, he has served as an officer in the Class A Tall Ships Sorlandet, Roald Amundsen, and Gazela. He currently holds a USCG 500 Ocean Master's License for power and sail and a Norwegian Chief Mate's Endorsement for Unlimited Tonnage. He has devoted his career to programs of education under sail, is the former Executive Director of the Gloucester Adventure and was awarded the ASTA Sail Training Program of the Year in 2002 for work with youth in the Lettie G. Howard. A longtime participant in the Gloucester Schooner Festival and the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, Captain Edick was also Commodore and Vice Commodore of the American Schooner Association.
Travis joined the ActionQuest staff in 1995 after his graduation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he earned a degree in Marine Engineering Systems. Throughout his youth and college years, Travis competed at both national and international levels of sailing, culminating in a bid for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team in 1996. The strong desire to be an effective teacher in the highly experiential environment ActionQuest creates aboard is what has motivated Travis to continually further his own training and education. Travis currently holds an International Yachtmaster Ocean rating, is an Instructor Evaluator for US Sailing in addition to being an advanced sailing instructor for US Sailing/American Sailing Association/International Yachtmaster. Along with his nautical certifications, Travis is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, has a IYT Ship's Captain's Medical certificate, is a Red Cross First Aid & CPR Instructor and holds a Private Pilot's License. In 1998, Travis started to work full-time with ActionQuest and Sea|mester as an Operational Program Director and Captain for both ActionQuest summer programs and Sea|mester college-level programs. Beginning in 1999 with the company's purchase of the 88ft sail training schooner S/Y Ocean Star, Travis began to once again apply his background in marine engineering and naval architecture as he took on the role of Marine Superintendent. In June of 2006, a company milestone was reached with the launch of the new 112ft sail training schooner STV Argo for which Travis responsible for all aspects of design, systems development, construction, and launch. In July 2020 STV Vela, Argo's sistership was launched and joined the Sea|mester fleet of sailing school ships. Travis currently lives in Sarasota Florida with his wife Laura, daughter Hannah, and son Luke. When not at work or with family, Travis tries to find time to continue to actively compete in high performance sailboat racing and volunteers his time to sit on the boards of two local sailing organizations, in addition to organizing local and national level sailing events.
Captain William Sabatini grew up in southeastern Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, and has been around water his entire life. He began sailing tall ships in Newport, RI, before attending Tabor Academy, an academically rigorous high school in Marion, MA. While at Tabor, Billy sailed for four years on the Schooner Tabor Boy; he also crewed on various other schooners during his summer breaks. In the latter half of his senior year, he restored a 1939 Alden Coastwise Cruiser, Luau, which he sailed throughout New England after graduation. The following year, he sailed Luau to Maine Maritime Academy, where he spent the next four years earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Small Vessel Operations, with a concentration in Sail Training. While at Maine Maritime, Billy worked his way up to the position of Chief Mate of the Academy's schooner Bowdoin, where he designed and implemented Bowdoin's student run sail training program. During his college career, he also assisted in the development of a supplemental seamanship program, applicable to both traditional and modern vessels, for students in all majors at the Academy. Billy began his time with the US Brig Niagara in 2005, as 3rd Mate, advancing to Chief Mate in 2008, Captain in 2014 and Executive Director/Fleet Captain in 2018. During the winter months, he has served as Mate or Captain on a number of tall ships on every coast of the United States. Over the last two plus decades, he has sailed the East coast from Nova Scotia to Venezuela, the West Coast from Alaska to Mexico, and the entire Great Lakes system, as well as crossing the Atlantic twice. Billy lives in Erie, PA with his dogs Bruin and Queen Charlotte and his cat Commodore.