John has more than 43 years of maritime experience, including vessel inspection, port security, waterfront facility inspection, mariner licensing, casualty investigation, and marine disaster and firefighting response. He is a recognized national authority on maritime issues, including regulatory development, with extensive experience in Puget Sound. He served from 2010 to 2020 as the Officer In Charge, Marine Inspection and the Chief of the Inspection Division at USCG Sector Puget Sound, with responsibility for safety, environmental and security standards for commercial vessels and waterfront facilities in the Pacific Northwest region. He has served as Chief of the Inspection Division at USCG Sector Puget Sound, head of Vessel Security and Washington State Ferries Security Sub-Committees within the Puget Sound Maritime Security committee. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, retiring in 2005 as a Captain while serving as the Pacific Area Reserve Chief of Staff. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University and a master’s degree from the University of Washington, School of Marine Affairs, and is a Department of Homeland Security Senior Fellow. He was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, served his first Coast Guard tour of duty in Juneau, Alaska, and currently resides in the Seattle area.