Steven Putnam is Managing Director of PEI TECH LLC serving the global maritime, cruise, offshore and government services industries providing Aderco Advanced Fuel Treatment Solutions, Carbonex EU ETS Trading Management & FuelEU Maritime Services, and GT Wing Wind Propulsion Systems. His background includes USCG Unlimited Licensed Engineering Officer, US Naval Reserve Officer, and ten years working onboard LNG tankers, containerships and bulk carriers. For the past twenty years he has held executive leadership positions on the commercial side of the industry in sales, marketing and technical services. Steven is active in industry associations, including past President of the Houston Propeller Club Houston, IMarEST – Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, CIMAC, Green Marine, and Connecticut Maritime Association. Steve holds a Marine Engineering degree from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

Michael is a dynamic leader with a proven track record in business development, consulting, and military aviation operations. Currently serving as Regional Director of Business Development & Ecosystems at REGENT, Michael drives strategic growth and partnerships for next-generation transportation technology. Prior to this role, he worked as a consultant in the Financial Services Office at EY, advising top-tier clients on performance improvement and risk mitigation strategies. Before transitioning to the private sector, Michael served in the U.S. Army as a UH-60 Blackhawk Company Commander and Director of Flight Operations. This unique blend of operational leadership and business acumen equips him with a versatile perspective on innovation, resilience, and cross-sector collaboration.

Dr. Beatty is a Canadian ocean tech entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in marine technology and R&D sectors. Under his leadership, MarineLabs has grown into a thriving company operating a North America-wide fleet of sensor nodes that provide real-time and predictive coastal weather intelligence that enhances the safety and efficiency of port operations.

Shawn is an accomplished professional with over 30 years of experience both in cyber and traditional warfare within the .mill and .gov sectors. A foundation built on Forensic Accounting, Shawn holds an MBA in accounting from Brown, an MIS in Management Information Systems, and an Executive Certification from Harvard. Backed by numerous professional licensures and certifications, Shawn brings a unique multidisciplinary skillset to the table supporting organizations. To name a few of his notable experience, he has established robust Threat Intelligence programs providing real time corporate situational awareness pertaining to threat actors. He was partnered on the implementation of DC3(Defense Cyber Crime Center) between the FBI and DOD. Shawn was part of the design of cyber warfare for offensive platform DDX (21st Century Stealth Destroyer). He is a sanctioned Threat Actor Negotiator (TAN) and has lead and negotiated over 550 Incident Response engagements, demonstrating an extraordinary track record of success and a proven ability to drive results. Also specializing in Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and Signal Intelligence (SIGNT), he has demonstrated expertise in high-stakes scenarios such as human ransom as well as cyber ransomware negotiations. Additionally, Shawn has extensive experience serving as Incident Response (IR) lead for Fortune 100 companies, effectively navigating complex cybersecurity challenges. With a career marked by strategic leadership and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Shawn continues to deliver impactful solutions and drive innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of cyber defense and intelligence operations.

Robert Crane, MBA, CBCP, is the Program Executive for Public Sector Engagements, Energy Security, and PNT at the Institute for Homeland Security at Sam Houston State University, a role he has held since February 2022.

A DRI Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), Mr. Crane champions operational resilience across critical infrastructure and end-user communities. Prior to this role, he retired from federal civil service as the U.S. GPS and PNT Resilience Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security, where he coordinated national policy on space-based systems, cybersecurity, and infrastructure resilience.
His career includes advisory and leadership roles within DHS and the U.S. Coast

Guard Reserve, culminating in his retirement as Commander after over 26 years of service. Mr. Crane brings private sector experience across transportation, financial services, oil & gas, and agriculture sectors. He holds a B.S., an M.B.A., and actively contributes to organizations such as the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation, Institute of Navigation, Energy Security Council, Foundation for Infrastructure Resilience, Secure-the-Grid Coalition, and National Security Innovation Council.

He also teaches online courses in business continuity, critical infrastructure protection, and crisis management as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Missouri, and advises homeland security academic programs at George Washington University.

Mr. Darwin Telemaque was born in the village of Wesley, on the Caribbean island of Dominica.

Mr. Telemaque’s tertiary studies began at the University of the Virgin Islands and he subsequently continued studies in Management and Marketing at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. He holds a Master’s in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Caribbean Maritime University in Jamaica, and his professional designations include Certified Port Executive (C.P.E). He is presently pursuing his Professional Port Manager (PPM) designation from the American Association of Port Authorities.

Mr. Telemaque is employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua Port Authority, where he is currently overseeing the USD $100 million redevelopment of the St. John’s Harbour. This development represents a major step in regional port and transportation management and will include a comprehensive digital platform, of which the IMO required Maritime Single Window has become a reality and is being considered the basis for further integration across the Port Eco system.

Mr. Telemaque’s many years of training and experience has afforded him opportunities to engage with several regional and international agencies including:

• The World Bank
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States
• Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States
• CARICOM
• Organization of the American States (OAS) and
• Port Management of the Association of the Caribbean (PMAC)

In addition to Chairman of the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), Mr. Telemaque is currently Vice Chairman of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and Vice President, International Committee of Ports of the Organization of the American States (OAS).

Greg Sisson is an executive-level cybersecurity leader with extensive experience in developing and implementing cybersecurity programs that address the unique challenges faced by critical infrastructure owners and operators. As a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of CI-Discern, Greg leads efforts to enhance governance, oversight, and strategic capabilities for critical infrastructure owners and operators, helping them align cybersecurity programs with regulatory requirements, and ensuring a risk-based approach.

Prior to co-founding CI-Discern, Greg served as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where he oversaw department-wide cybersecurity operations, risk management, and compliance. He also held the position of Managing Director in EY’s Energy Cybersecurity Consulting practice, where he worked with CISOs across power and utilities, oil and natural gas, and global manufacturing sectors to transform their cybersecurity programs.

Greg’s public service career includes leadership roles at Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN), where he directed global defensive cyberspace operations, and at the Joint Staff, where he contributed to the development of the DOD’s Cyber Strategy. A proud military veteran, Greg retired as a Signal Officer after serving over 20 years in the U.S. Army.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of South Carolina Aiken and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Warfare in Newport, RI. He is a respected advisor to CISOs, CIOs, and CTOs, bringing deep expertise in aligning cybersecurity programs with frameworks like NIST and CISA guidelines to foster resilience and operational efficiency.

Thomas Damsgaard is head of BIMCO in the Americas, where his responsibilities encompass member interest and industry engagement for the Americas.

Thomas started an exciting shipping career in 1990 and has earned his stripes in a succession of increasingly challenging roles within senior management and leadership for maritime market leaders. He has lead several maritime start-ups and turnarounds and acted as an external advisor on leadership, strategy and optimization to global maritime, logistics and PE organizations. He has served on professional boards within shipping and logistics.

An active member of the Houston community, he fills leading roles including for the Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association, Advisory Board at University of Houston; he founded the Danish American Chamber of Commerce and a non-for profit maritime scholarship fundraiser.

Thomas holds an MBA in Shipping & Logistics (Blue MBA) from Copenhagen Business School.

As Director of Public Safety & Security, Mr. David St. Pierre is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the port’s security and emergency action plans and manages the daily activities of the SeaPort Manatee security department. He also oversees the port’s licensing and permitting programs. In addition to his routine duties Mr. St. Pierre is the course writer and lead instructor for the port’s certified Facility Security Officer (FSO) training program.

Mr. St. Pierre retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2002 after 22 years of honorable service and has been employed at SeaPort Manatee since 2005. Mr. St. Pierre holds a degree in Homeland Security from Keiser University, is a Certified Port Executive and a member of the Tampa Bay – Area Maritime Security Committee.

Wilfred de Gannes is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Shipbuilding and Repair Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. (SRDC). He currently leads the development of the La Brea Shipyard Project, a transformational maritime hub positioned to serve international shipping, offshore energy, and industrial repair markets. Expanding his vision into technology, Mr. de Gannes also heads the “Marseille of the Americas” AI Data Center initiative, designed to position Trinidad and Tobago as a global leader in hyper scale computing and competitive digital infrastructure.