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March 24-25, 2026
Hilton University of Houston
Houston, TX

Archive for the ‘Speaker’ Category

Dwight Agriel

Posted on: November 3rd, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments

Dwight Agriel is a Lead Cybersecurity Architect with Honeywell, specializing in industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) security. With extensive experience in designing and implementing secure architectures for critical infrastructure, Dwight helps organizations modernize and safeguard their industrial environments against evolving cyber threats.

At Honeywell, he leads initiatives that integrate advanced monitoring, threat detection, and incident response capabilities into complex OT networks, ensuring compliance with global standards such as IEC 62443 and NIST frameworks. His work spans across multiple industries—including energy, manufacturing, and transportation—where resilience and safety are paramount.

Dwight has been a trusted advisor for Fortune 500 companies and government entities, guiding them through cybersecurity assessments, risk management strategies, and large-scale digital transformation projects. He is passionate about bridging the gap between IT and OT domains, and about enabling secure innovation for the future of ports, energy systems, and critical infrastructure.

Miles Keeney-Ritchie

Posted on: November 3rd, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments

Miles Keeney-Ritchie is the Founder and CEO of Aloft Systems, a Colorado-based company developing modular, “Plug & Sail” wind-assist wing systems to reduce fuel costs in commercial shipping. His work centers on making wind propulsion practical for the existing fleet through sails that can be installed without downtime and integrated seamlessly with cargo operations. Aloft is also advancing vessel-mounted sensor systems that transform ships into high-frequency ocean observatories to enhance weather forecasting and maritime safety. Miles brings over a decade of experience in hardware design, robotics, and new-product introduction.

Before founding Aloft Systems, he led hardware development and manufacturing programs for robotics start-ups. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and is named on six patents spanning robotics, mechanical systems, and automation. Through Aloft, he is helping bridge the gap between maritime operations, renewable propulsion, and real-time ocean intelligence, working toward a future where commercial ships operate more efficiently, resiliently, and safely.

Carleen Lydon Walker

Posted on: November 3rd, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments

Carleen Lyden Walker, CEO of SeaTrain Technology, is a maritime professional in the commercial maritime industry with over 40 years of experience. She is Chief Evolution Officer of SHIPPINGInsight- the fleet optimization and innovation platform for shipping, founder and CEO of Morgan Marketing & Communications, the Co-Founder and CEO of NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association), and the Founder of the Consortium for International Maritime Heritage. She is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MAR (Maritime Accelerator for Resilience) and Co-Author of “ZERO POINT FOUR—How US Leadership in maritime will Secure America’s Future”.

In 2015, Ms. Walker was appointed a Goodwill Maritime Ambassador by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). She is a member of the Connecticut Maritime Association, the Marine Society of the City of New York, WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association) WIMAC (Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean), the New York Council of the Navy League, and is a Past-President and current member of the Propeller Club Chapter of the Port of NY/NJ as well as Washington DC. She is also a member of the Pathways Advisory Committee at the Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore, is a trustee of the US Friends of the World Maritime University and is consistently listed among the top 100 women in maritime globally. Most recently, she was honored as a Top Women in Maritime by Marine Log.

In 2010, she was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the United States Coast Guard and in 2014 a Public Service Commendation for her work on World Maritime Day and AMVER, respectively. In March of 2023, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the Coast Guard for her work with both NAMEPA and SHIPPINGInsight.

Ms. Walker graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Political Science and History (minor in Economics) and studied Accounting at Cornell School of Business Administration. She is a trained facilitator and media trainer and held a USCG Captain’s license.

Steven Putnam

Posted on: October 31st, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments
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 Proulx

Posted on: October 31st, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments
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.

Shawn Newman

Posted on: October 31st, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments
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

Posted on: October 23rd, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments

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.

Darwin Telemaque

Posted on: October 23rd, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments

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

Posted on: October 20th, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments

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

Posted on: October 20th, 2025 by Mark Omalley No Comments

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.