By: Zach Walden, Director of Port Safety, Hampton Roads Shipping Association
As we celebrate the U.S. Coast Guard’s birthday this month, we want to take this opportunity to expose the lasting impact that Coast Guard veterans continue to have on the maritime safety industry. The rigorous training, diverse experiences, and unique perspectives gained through Coast Guard service equip veterans with invaluable skills that they carry into the civilian workforce, particularly in roles that safeguard our ports and waterways. This month’s blog post shares the diverse ways in which Coast Guard veterans continue to serve the maritime safety industry, even after their military careers have ended.
One of the most defining aspects of the Coast Guard is its extensive involvement with the public, especially within the commercial maritime sector. Coast Guard personnel often find themselves in roles that are deeply integrated with commercial operations, such as prevention officers who work closely with terminal and vessel operations. This close interaction provides Coast Guard members with a deep understanding of the industry’s inner workings. The knowledge and skills acquired in these roles make the transition from military to civilian life relatively seamless for many veterans.
Will Fediw, who served both enlisted and as an officer, summed up his career like this:
“The Coast Guard, as one of the armed forces, likely has the most external involvement with the public, particularly in the commercial maritime sector. As a prevention officer within the sector construct, you engage extensively with the commercial sector—terminal operations, vessel operations, and so on—almost like a business partner. My work with the Coast Guard on the regulatory side seamlessly transitioned into regulatory compliance in the private sector. The subject matter remained consistent, but the perspective changed. Currently, I represent the commercial maritime community, handling port development, regulatory compliance, and government affairs. My experience with the Coast Guard provided a profound understanding and expertise to navigate the complexities of how these sectors interact. Now, I can effectively bridge the gap between industry and the Coast Guard, fostering collaboration for the betterment of local ports.”
When Coast Guard members move into private sector roles, particularly those related to regulatory compliance, their prior experience proves invaluable. The subject matter may remain consistent, but the shift from enforcing regulations to ensuring compliance from the industry side brings a new perspective. Veterans are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the Coast Guard and the commercial maritime community, fostering collaboration that benefits both parties. Their ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and understand the intricacies of port development and government affairs ensures that they continue to contribute meaningfully to the industry.
One of the key strengths that Coast Guard veterans bring to the maritime safety industry is their deep regulatory knowledge. The Coast Guard’s training programs are designed to ensure that its members thoroughly understand the nuanced regulations that govern maritime operations, particularly those related to safety, security, and environmental health. Within months of graduating bootcamp or officer candidate school, Coast Guard members find themselves enforcing federal laws and regulations in a myriad of domestic and international maritime settings. This expertise gives veterans a significant head start when they transition into roles as safety, security, or environmental health managers in the private sector. Reflecting on his deployment to Key West following Hurricane Irma, where he recovered vessels and hazardous materials equipment, former Marine Safety Technician Conrad Norton, highlighted the importance and fulfillment of the mission, sharing “the Coast Guard gave me invaluable exposure to nationwide industries and environmental laws that continue to inform my work today.”
In today’s fast-paced world, where information is readily accessible online, there is a growing concern that the deep, nuanced understanding of regulations is becoming less common. While this problem is shared across industries, the maritime sector has unique challenges where industries and regulations intersect. While the ability to quickly Google a regulation has made it easier to find information, it has also made retaining that knowledge more challenging. Coast Guard veterans, however, are trained to master regulations in detail, often down to specific citations.
Take retired Damage Control Chief Joe Allen, for example. With over 30 years in the Coast Guard, Joe trained foreign Coast Guards and Navies in repair locker drills, fire drills, and handling shipboard catastrophes both underway and during port operations. He also deployed to the Deepwater Horizon disaster as a certified pollution investigator. One of Joe’s most notable experiences was responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where he took daily trips on a C-130 to evacuate people from the island to the mainland, serving as an EMT—a role not typically associated with a Damage Controlman. What makes Joe’s story unique is that during his deployment to Puerto Rico, he was in the reserves and activated to help in the crisis. In his civilian life, Joe works as a federal maritime Fire Investigator, serving as an EMT and key regulatory compliance officer for the world’s largest naval base. It was his civilian expertise that the Coast Guard capitalized on to assign Joe to such a unique mission. Joe’s diverse career highlights the broad and critical expertise that Coast Guard members bring to the maritime safety industry that you can’t find on any search engine.
Most likely, if you are reading this you have seen Coast Guard members around your port inspecting all sorts of cargo. The regulatory administration experience that Coast Guard veterans bring to the cargo handling industry provides a significant head start in navigating the numerous federal and state requirements that safety, security, and environmental health managers must oversee. Retired Captain Curtis Shaw expresses that despite the head start Coast Guard veterans have, that to be an effective safety manager, one must master relevant regulations in detail. Curtis shares “All safety managers should thoroughly understand the administration of the Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) program for each piece of equipment, including federal, state, and other applicable rules. Former Coast Guard personnel benefit from knowing how to familiarize themselves with these requirements, but it still takes about five years to become competent in a marine terminal, requiring learning from experienced colleagues through observation and listening.”
Learning from experienced colleagues is something we often emphasize in the workplace, aiming to instill its value in those we work with. However, it can be challenging to find the right references or stories that truly capture the importance and impact of this mentorship. These stories are crucial in illustrating how invaluable the transfer of knowledge and skills from seasoned professionals to newer team members can be. Whether it’s through shared experiences, hands-on guidance, or simply observing how a veteran approaches a problem, the lessons learned from experienced colleagues often shape our careers in profound ways.
This sentiment holds personal significance for me, as I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some incredible individuals throughout my ten-year career in the Coast Guard and beyond. I, the author, was stationed with Conrad Norton during our time on active duty at the Coast Guard Training Center Fire Department in Cape May, New Jersey. After leaving active duty, I transitioned to a career as a paramedic/firefighter, where I had the opportunity to work with Joe Allen at the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services Department. During that time, I was a reservist stationed at a Port Security Unit. As my career path shifted, I entered the maritime safety industry and met Will Fediw. We’ve since become colleagues and golfing partners (Joe too), connecting both professionally and personally. Curtis Shaw and I crossed paths through our work together on the National Maritime Safety Association’s Technical Committee, further reinforcing the importance of these professional relationships in shaping my journey.
The ongoing contributions of Coast Guard veterans to the maritime safety industry cannot be overstated. Their rigorous training, deep regulatory knowledge, and ability to bridge the gap between military and civilian roles make them invaluable assets in ensuring the safety and security of our nation’s ports and waterways. As we celebrate the Coast Guard’s birthday this month, let us also celebrate the veterans who continue to serve, protect, and enhance the maritime industry long after their military service has ended. Their dedication and expertise are essential to the ongoing success and safety of the maritime community.
Special thanks to shipmates:
Curtis Shaw (Capt. Ret.)
Associate Coast Director, Accident Prevention & Training Strategy Pacific Maritime Association
Will Fediw (Lt.)
Senior Vice President, Virginia Maritime Association
Joe Allen (DC Chief ret.)
Fire Investigator, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services
Conrad Norton (MST2)
Environmental Consultant, Geosyntec
Zach Walden (DC2)
Director of Port Safety, Hampton Roads Shipping Association