Engineering Technician III / Navy Range Boat Captain - A.I. Signal Research - Huntsville, AL
(2024-07)
Serving as a Navy Range Boat Operator/Captain for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (Potomac River Test Range) under the contractor AI Signal Research Inc, employed as an Engineering Tech III.
- Responsible for the safety of public, crew, and vessel(s) on PRTR (Potomac River Test Range) when clearing range for day's testing event(s). Responsible for keeping test range, "Middle Danger Zone", clear of commercial and recreational traffic. Navigating transiting vessels outside of range boundaries.
- Operating 24'-36' twin screw outboard motor vessels for NSWC Dahlgren Range Clearance and other testing purposes. Operating 74' twin screw LCM-8 (landing craft) with diesel inboards in NSWC Dahlgren operations and ordnance transfers as well as PWC (Personal Watercraft Craft) for various testing.
- Collaborating closely with engineers, autonomy developers, and mission planners to execute test plans. Ensuring all maritime operations comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including USCG standards. Participating in safety assessments and contributing to operational planning and risk mitigation. Supporting logistics, maintenance, and troubleshooting of vessels and onboard systems.
- Safe deployment, recovery, and towing operations of ASVs, USVs in various maritime environments and sea state conditions. Operating vessels in accordance with tracking and recovery missions. Following SOP protocol to ensure crew and test plan safety. Acting as the on-water safety lead during test operations. Experience supporting unmanned surface vessels (USV), robotics, and autonomous systems development efforts.
- Process Supervisor for Watercraft Operations; detailing, relaying, and enforcing standard operating procedures to crew and staff on vessels and for working sites over water.
- Daily duties include checklist of ensuring vessel's hull/superstructure/bilge is free of leaks, oil/fuel discharge, and other conditions that could prohibit proper operation or pose safety risks to personnel/environment. Checklist includes daily inspection of navigational lights, horns, sirens, GPS, radio(s), personal flotation devices, FireBoy fire suppression system, fire extinguishers and other safety equipment.
- Maintenance on vessels used in operations/test events. Outboard maintenance, inboard diesel maintenance; including oil change, engine swaps, preventative maintenance, generator maintenance, etc.
Hydrographic Engineering Associate III - State of Maryland / Department of Natural Resources-Hydrographics - Crisfield, MD
(2023-09 - 2024-06)
Worked with a survey team using surveying equipment and was responsible for the accurate placement of regulatory and navigation buoys on the 90' 200+ Ton M/V Eddie Somers buoy tending/ice breaking operation for State of Maryland Boating Services.
- Supervised the structural/cosmetic repairs/upgrades and was responsible for commanding vessels involved in buoy operations. The program is vital to a variety of state regulatory, research and restoration programs within Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries working along USCG, Maryland Natural Resources Police and other stakeholders ensuring Maryland's Chesapeake Bay remain safe and navigable.
- Completed daily inspection of vessel, trucks and trailers. Vessel inspection/maintenance on M/V Eddie Somers included daily walk through, checking hatches, bilges and bulkheads for compromise or leaks. Inspecting safety equipment; life jackets, fire suppression system, fire extinguishers, flares, lights, horns, whistles, VHF radio, etc. Checking for leaks and spills, using oil booms and pig mats to clean up and prevent further contamination (if applicable).
- Removing debris; sunken vessels, trees, and other obstructions from State waterways to ensure safe navigation for vessels transiting. Use of MELCAL crane/boom, chainsaws, various cranes, winches and block and tackle in removal process.
- As Operator of State of Maryland 23' Pacific Skiffs, responsibilities included ensuring safety of public, crew and vessel. Safety measures included daily checking of life jackets, lights, VHF radios, horns, flares, etc.
- Served as Deckhand/Engineer-in-Training and operated 100' 200 Ton M/V Eddie Somers en route to various hydrographic projects, using GPS, Radar, charts. Stood watch/lookout for Captain. Trained as wheelsman.
Painter/Deckhand - State of Maryland - Department of Natural Resources-Hydrographics - Crisfield, MD
(2019-04 - 2019-10)
Served aboard the 85' 165 Ton M/V J. M. Tawes as painter/deckhand, performing maintenance on the vessel and assisting with the retrieving and placement of navigational and regulatory buoys and/or markers. Stood watch/lookout for M/V J.M. Tawes as well as operated Tawes under Captain's guidance in navigating vessel.
- Duties included but not limited to: cleaning, painting and repairing of existing buoys or the preparation for new buoys; labeling buoys with the appropriate U.S. Coast Guard approved colors and verbiage; facilitated the pouring and finishing of concrete buoy weights; assisted the Maintenance Chief for the maintenance requirements of the vessel; operated various vehicles to transport buoys, unloaded weights, stocked buoys and other supplies.
- Removing debris; sunken vessels, trees, and other obstructions from State waterways to ensure safe navigation for vessels transiting. Use of chainsaws, cranes, winches and block and tackle in removal process.
- Assisted Maintenance Chief with inspection of M/V J. Millard Tawes and other State of Maryland vessels for compliance of USCG and Maryland laws and regulations. Frequently checking hull, decks, bilges for any compromise that could lead to vessel(s) being unsafe for personnel/environment.
- Frequently inspected personal flotation devices, lights, horns, sirens, railings, cat walks, lines, fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems and other safety equipment to ensure proper working order.
- Operated 23' Pacific Skiff and state owned trucks/trailers in the various day to day hydrographic needs of Maryland's Department of Natural Resources.
Assistant Maintenance Supervisor - Somers Cove Marina - State of Maryland - Crisfield, MD
(2018-01 - 2019-04)
Served as Assistant Maintenance Supervisor at Somers Cove Marina- Crisfield, MD. Assisted in maintaining 515 boat slip marina in daily tasks including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, custodial, groundskeeping and security.
Captain/Owner/Operator - Richard Laird Jr - Self Employed - La Plata, MD
(2008-06 - 2023-09)
Captain/Owner/Operator of 36' Chesapeake Bay Deadrise F/V Pop Richard in Virginia and Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and it's tributaries; fishing, crabbing and oystering throughout the Bay, with extensive knowledge of Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean near coast of Virginia Beach/Lynnhaven.
- Repair and maintenance duties included engine maintenance; changing oil/fluids, replacing belts, anodes, and raw water systems repair, etc. Maintenance on pumps, motors and hydraulic hauling equipment. Woodwork; wood replacement, sanding, painting, caulking, applying antifoulant, etc.
- Safety inspection included checking life jackets, type IV throwables, fire extinguishers, horns, whistles, etc. And ensuring proper documentation and registration in compliance with USCG and Virginia regulations and laws.
- Frequently inspected personal flotation devices, lights, horns, sirens, railings, cat walks, lines, fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems and other safety equipment to ensure proper working order.
- Served as crew on numerous commercial fishing vessels in various fishing industries on Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
