Rear Admiral Cook is currently assigned as the Director of Prevention Policy where his responsibilities span many of Coast Guard’s Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship missions affecting waterways management, domestic and international shipping, recreational and fishing boats, and port facilities.

At the time of his flag officer selection, Rear Admiral Cook was serving as Chief of Staff for the Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Seattle, Washington. In his first flag assignment, he was Director of the Operations Command Implementation Team in Portsmouth, Virginia, leading the effort to integrate oversight of all Coast Guard operations into a single Operations Command.

Previous duty assignments include three tours afloat: CGC MADRONA as a deck watch officer; CGC BITTERSWEET as the Executive Officer; and CGC COWSLIP as the Commanding Officer. Additionally, he has had a number of tours ashore. His Coast Guard Headquarters assignments were as a staff engineer in the Hazardous Materials Division, where he later returned as Division Chief. As such, he served as the Coast Guard's leading policy advisor for commercial transport of hazardous oil, chemical, and liquefied gas cargoes, including duties as a U.S. delegation leader for related work at the International Maritime Organization.

Rear Admiral Cook has held a variety of field positions supporting the Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection mission areas; first, as a mid-grade officer at Marine Safety Office Hampton Roads, Virginia. Later he was assigned at Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston, Texas, as Executive Officer, and subsequently Commanding Officer. There he served as Captain of the Port for the ports of Houston, Galveston, Texas City, and Freeport, and offshore waters. For two years following 9/11, he also directed maritime homeland security operations through command of the regional Task Unit that included members serving in Coast Guard units and Navy patrol boats spanning from Freeport, Texas, eastward to Lake Charles, Louisiana.

A native of Freehold, NJ, he graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1979 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering. Rear Admiral Cook also earned a Masters of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. He is a 1999 graduate of the U.S. Army War College. In 2003, he was appointed as the Coast Guard Fellow to Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Study Group. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Additionally, he was recognized by the National Propeller Club as the Port of Houston Maritime Person of the Year for 2003.

Rear Admiral Terence E. "Terry" McKnight
Expeditionary Strike Group 2/Commander, Task Force 51/59/151

Rear Admiral Terence E. McKnight, a native of Norfolk, graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in May 1978. He completed his master's degree in International Relations at Salve Regina University in May 1998. Additionally, he graduated from the U.S. Army War College in 1994 and attended the National Security Seminar at Syracuse University in 2001.

McKnight's early sea duty assignments included USS El Paso (LKA 117), USS John L. Hall (FFG 32), USS Shreveport (LPD 12) and executive officer in USS Cayuga (LST 1186). He commanded USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) from January 1995 until November 1996 and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) from July 2002 until December 2003.

Duties ashore included the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) as assistant lieutenant commander detailer, aide and administrative assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel, Surface Warfare Officers School, Command Training Department as head Expeditionary Warfare instructor, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Navy (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), the Office of Chief of Naval Operations N6/N7, and executive assistant to the Under Secretary of the Navy.

McKnight served as the 85th commandant of Naval District Washington, the oldest continuously operated Navy installation in the nation and the deputy commander, Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region.

McKnight assumed duties as Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2, in September 2007.

McKnight's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, as well as various other unit awards and decorations.

Captain Joseph Ahlstrom is a master mariner with over 14 years of experience at sea. He has served on tankers, container ships and research vessels. Mostly as chief mate and captain including 3 tours as master of the TSES Empire State.

His experience also includes 7 years as and assistant and associate professor at SUNY Maritime College. He current teaches several subjects at the college including: Cargo Operations, Tankers, Bridge Resource Management, GMDSS and a Port Security course at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He is responsible for the initial development and implementation of the Port Security course at SUNY. He created and personally obtained USCG approval for the GMDSS course. He also fine-tuned and obtained USCG approval for the PIC endorsement for the tanker curriculum presently given at SUNY allowing the cadets to obtain a valid PIC endorsement upon graduation.

He is a graduate of SUNY Maritime College and holds a B.S. in Marine Transportation and a Masters degree in Transportation Management (with honors). He is a commander in the United States Navy Reserve and is a qualified US Navy Anti-Terrorism Officer and Anti Terrorism Training Officer. He is qualified to serve as an ATO on any US Navy contract or auxiliary vessel and conduct level one anti-terrorist awareness training for all DoD personnel. He is trained CBR-d officer.

He holds a current unlimited USCG Masters license and STCW certificate.

As a maritime expert and consultant, he has reported on the following incidents; London Maersk Allsion in Genoa, Collision between M.V. Enif and M.V. Alexis, Collision of dredge Ouachita in Earle, NJ. The following incidents are still current: M.T. Virgo collision, Atlantic Bulker grounding, collision between M.V. Atlantic Crusader and M.V. Global Mariner.

Kathy Metcalf is the Director of Maritime Affairs for the Chamber of Shipping of America, a maritime trade association that represents a significant number of U.S. based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, container ships, and other merchant vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades. She has held this position since 1997 and in her capacity represents maritime interests before Congress, federal and state agencies and in international fora. Prior to coming to the Chamber of Shipping, Kathy served in various positions in the energy industry including deck officer aboard large oceangoing tankers, marine safety and environmental director, corporate regulatory and compliance manager and state government affairs manager. Kathy is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (BS in Marine Transportation and Nautical Sciences) and a 1988 graduate of the Delaware Law School (JD).

Captain Crook is a graduate of Texas Maritime Academy and holds an Unlimited Masters License. He has sailed as Master for United States Lines and Sea Land Services on various ships on different runs around the world for over thirty years. He has built ships in foreign shipyards and has a strong background in reference to ship operations both foreign and domestic. Capt Crook has taught at MITAGS and was director of operations for Sea School. He was also instrumental in developing the Marine Division of Blackwater USA. After 911 he became active in maritime security and developed port and vessel security plans both nationally and internationally. During the winter season Captain Crook operates a sailing charter business in the British Virgin Islands and is active in the sailing world.He teaches a wide variety of subjects at MAMA including 100t and 200t licenses, Ships Business and Maritime Law, and VSO.

Rear Admiral Hank Ort (1957) took up the post of Chief of Staff to the Allied Maritime Component Command Northwood in August 2009.

Prior to his appointment he had been the Netherlands Ministry of Defence Chief Information Office (CIO) since January 2007. In this position he was responsible for Defence Policy on information management and organisation.

Before that he commanded the Netherlands Maritime Force (NLMARFOR) from its inception in 2005 after having played a central role in its creation as Commander Belgian Netherlands Task Group (the precursor to NLMARFOR) in 2004. In early 2006 as COMNLMARFOR, he commanded the International Combined Task Force 150 in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

From 2002 to 2004, he commanded the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) HNLMS Rotterdam. During this period, the ship deployed as the amphibious support platform for the initial deployment of the United Nations Mission to Liberia (UNMIL). Prior to that, in 2000, he was attached to the European Union to participate in setting up the EU Military Staff in Brussels, where he went on to fill the post of Chief Executive Officer. Earlier periods in the Naval staff in The Hague included appointments as Deputy Director Plans, and as Staff Officer Submarines in the Department of Operational requirements.

Having joined the Navy in 1975 he served both in submarines and surface ships. He commanded multi purpose frigate HNLMS Van Nes (1996 – 97) and the submarines HNLMS Tonijn and HNLMS Tijgerhaai (1990 – 92).

He is a graduate of the RN Submarine Command Course in 1989 (SMCC 3/89) and the long Naval Staff Course of 1992. He is married to Karin and they have one daughter.

Apart from activities with his family, his favourite pastimes are jogging, reading, and enjoying classical music. He is a committee member for the Simon Vestdijk Literary Society, and Editor of the Vestdijkkroniek periodical.

Robert Ford has over 32 years experience in the maritime industry as a ship's officer, consultant, ISM/ISPS auditor and marine accident investigator. From 1977 until 1999, Bob sailed on American flag cargo ships, including service on commercial and military contracted vessels. He sailed in all licensed deck officer positions from Third Mate to Master.

After retiring from the sea, Bob went to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) as a Marine Analyst in the Notice to Mariners division. He evaluated and determined whether information provided from foreign sources should be disseminated to American commercial and military users of the safety information. He was a watch-stander for the Worldwide Navigational Warnings Service (WWNWS). As watch-stander, he received navigation and safety information from sources throughout the world.

In 2001, Bob moved from NIMA to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and was the Investigator In Charge (IIC) for a number of high profile marine accidents, including allision of the Andrew J. Barberi (Staten Island Ferry) and boiler rupture to the Norwegian cruise line vessels. He served as either the IIC, Project Manager or Group Chairman for a number of accidents to small passenger vessels.

After leaving the NTSB, Bob went to the Liberian International Ship and Corp. Registry (LISCR). Initially, he was Quality Manager and was responsible to upper management for implementation, review and auditing of the Marine Department's Quality Management System. In September 2007, Bob was promoted to Vice President Quality and Audits at LISCR. His responsibilities included scheduling and quality review of safety (ISM) and security (ISPS) audits. He is a certified ISM and ISPS (security auditor) and coordinated the training of Liberian auditors. While at the Liberian Registry, he investigated a number of accidents including the sinking of the cruise ship EXPLOER in the Antarctic.

James Christodoulou is President and CEO of Industrial Shipping Enterprises Corp. (ISEC), a Connecticut-based owner and operator of product tankers. ISEC’s vessel MV Biscaglia was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden in November 2008 and Mr. Christodoulou personally negotiated with the Somali pirates holding his crew hostage to secure their safe release. He was CFO of several public and private shipping companies in the United States and Greece including General Maritime Corp. and Ocean Freight Inc. He worked on Wall Street as Managing Director of the investment bank Dahlman Rose first as Director of Research and later as an investment banker. He spent several years in corporate finance and private equity. Mr. Christodoulou attended Columbia Business School and Rutgers University.

Captain Jeffrey Kuhlman, who currently works in Africa, is the originator of the Castle Shipboard Security Program in association with the Sig Sauer Academy. Captain Kuhlman has first hand experience being boarded by pirates. He trains mariners to protect themselves and their vessel "from the ravages of piracy and terror." He has extensive military and maritime training and is the holder of degrees in business, history and education, with graduate-level work in maritime history. His professional memberships include USSA, IASCP, SSCA and NRA.

Stephen Caldwell has 26 years of experience evaluating national security programs on behalf of Congress. As GAO’s Director for Maritime Security and Coast Guard Issues, he provides briefings, reports and testimony to congressional committees and individual members of the House and Senate. His recent GAO reports and testimony evaluated a wide variety of maritime security programs. His other GAO reports evaluated different defense and international programs. Mr. Caldwell has extensive international experience, having spent seven years working overseas and having visited 27 countries as part of his work on maritime security and other issues. His other experiences include working for a congressional committee and the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Mr. Caldwell earned diplomas from the University of California at Berkeley and the U.S. Naval War College.

Allen Black is a partner in Winston & Strawn’s Washington, D.C. office with strong experience handling the full range of maritime matters, including regulatory issues, cargo and shipping issues, vessel financing and documentation, maritime litigation and arbitration, maritime commercial transactions, marine construction and product liability issues, and general maritime counseling.

Mr. Black has served as lead attorney in a number of maritime litigation matters, including product liability and maritime lien cases. He has helped establish a number of key precedents in maritime law concerning the scope of maritime attachments, the availability of punitive damages in admiralty, and the jurisdictional reach of admiralty limitation of liability actions. Mr. Black practices before the Federal Maritime Commission, representing clients in complaint proceedings, investigations, and licensing matters. He represents vessel owners, operators, and charterers in maritime arbitration matters. Mr. Black assists clients to avoid litigation by conducting shipboard internal investigations and providing timely, practical advice to shipowners and shippers, and by assisting clients with organizational and contracting matters.

Mr. Black assists shipowners and lenders in structuring vessel financing transactions to ensure compliance with U.S. shipping and vessel documentation laws. He counsels clients in navigating U.S. and international requirements pertaining to vessel construction, certification, and operations. In addition, he assists clients in designing and implementing international freight transportation agreements and related transactions.

Mr. Black served as a seagoing officer, and later as an attorney, in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring at the rank of Commander in 1996. As a Coast Guard attorney, he handled a number of felony-level trials and advised Coast Guard commanders, before being selected to train and ultimately manage the Coast Guard’s legal workforce. In addition, he developed, coordinated, and presented international law seminars to top-level military and civilian officials in a number of emerging democracies in support of Department of Defense initiatives. Following retirement from the Coast Guard, Mr. Black worked as a maritime and litigation attorney in Baltimore before joining Winston & Strawn in 1999.

William P. Astillero joined the Foreign Service in 2009. As an Assistant Coordinator for the State Department’s Counter Piracy team, he facilitates the Department’s multilateral efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa. This includes the coordination of more than 10 U.S. government departments and agencies, and the 50+ participants in the international Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. He has previous experience in private security and regional banking. Mr. Astillero has a degree in history from Rowan University.

Captain James Staples has been at sea for 30 years with 17 years command experience. He has extensive time operating in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean area, Malacca Straits, South China Sea and the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. Capt. Staples has given testimony concerning piracy and vessel security to the US Senate Committee for Transportation under the leadership of Senator Lautenberg and has testified in congressional subcommittee hearings concerning Piracy with Chair Person Congressman William Delahunt. He has lectured and taught at the collegiate level on Ship Security and Piracy. He has been interviewed concerning piracy and vessel security by major networks and newspapers and has been a guest speaker on Counter Piracy and Maritime security at conventions held in Washington DC and Dubai UAE. Capt. Staples is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He is a Master Mariner in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Captain Fred J. Evans is a Senior Associate at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Global Maritime and Transportation School (USMMA GMATS) where he has been developing sealift mobility as well as maritime transportation and security training programs for emerging global security requirements. He developed and implemented the maritime security and C4I modules of the National Sealift Training Program. He served in the U.S. Navy, performing shipboard duty on guided missile destroyers, aircraft carriers and sealift logistics vessels, and staff assignments with Joint Task Force Middle East, Military Sealift Command and the Chief of Naval Operations. Capt. Evans authored “Maritime and Port Security”.

Kevin Doherty has held the highest clearances in the US government, authored a number of classified reports on adversary tactics and explosive mitigation, and provided expert congressional testimony on piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. He has been involved in combat operations in high-threat theatres and served as firearms expert and instructor with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Special Operations. Mr. Doherty spent the bulk of his Marine Corps career as Sergeant of the Guard, supervising Marine security forces for various vessel security operations that involve nuclear materials. He was hired by the DOE for its Nuclear Materials Courier program. In 2005, Mr. Doherty resigned from DOE to create Nexus Consulting, a leading provider of armed security details to US flagged vessels and which has successfully completed over 25 transits with a number of deterred attacks.