Larry Burrill is co-founder and board member of Pomerado LLC, an Information Technology company that provides support to a variety of Federal Government agencies. Prior to that he retired as President of the Readiness and Sustainment Solutions business unit and cofounder of McKean Defense Group. He provided consulting services regularly with senior leaders within the U.S. Navy’s varied Sustainment and Readiness Commands. Prior to that position, he served on active duty with the U.S. Navy for over 24 years as an Engineering Duty Officer, retiring as Captain in 2001. He served as Chief Engineer in nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson CVN-70. Ashore he served in leadership positions in Program Management and Technical Leadership in Washington, D.C. He received his undergraduate degree in Marine Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine. He completed his graduate work at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey California where he received his Masters in Mechanical Engineering.

Larry grew up in Canaan, Maine, and currently lives in Naples Floria and Philadelphia, PA. Larry, and his wife Joan have two children.

Leah Komar Harris is a principal owner of the Komar Company, a privately held, family-run business established in 1908. Komar is a leader in designing, sourcing, manufacturing, and distributing sleepwear, intimates, kids, layering, and lifestyle brands. With a network of factories in 14 countries, the company serves over 100 brands and 500 retailers across 50 diverse categories, maintaining an efficient, transparent, and approachable business style.

Leah is also a dedicated philanthropist, spearheading numerous initiatives. She coordinated fundraising for the USA America’s Cup campaign and served as the Director of Development for the Eagle Hill School, which supports bright, capable students with learning disabilities. Additionally, Leah co-founded The Global Foundation for Eating Disorders, an organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders worldwide. An avid sailor, snowboarder, and horsewoman, Leah is the proud mother of four sons and grandmother of six.

Jeffrey K. Harris is an expert in US National Security space and ground systems where he has fostered new technologies and programs that have contributed significantly to US Government classified programs and commercial companies. He currently consults extensively with both government and industry.

Jeff is retired from Lockheed Martin, where he was an officer of the Corporation. He served as President of LM Missiles and Space and President of LM Special Programs. Also, he was President of Space Imaging, the first company to commercially provide high-resolution satellite imagery and information.

Before entering the private sector, he served in Senate-confirmed senior national leadership positions, including Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, and Associate Executive Director of the Intelligence Community Staff.

Jeff continues to be actively engaged in space-related programs. He is a member of the Commander, STRATCOM Strategic Advisory Group, an advisor to the National Security Space Association and a past chair of both the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation and the Open Geospatial Consortium.

Jeff is also active in academic and local community programs. He is a director of the National Intelligence University Foundation and the immediate past Chair of the Board of Trustees at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a director on the Board of the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, where he led $18 million renovation projects to enhance patron experience and improve the physical plant. He is a long-time supporter of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, where he has focused on developing strategies for financial growth, educational opportunities for school children and broader community outreach. He has also supported the Anne Arundel Medical Center, helping to stand up a new cardiac surgery program.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Photographic Science and Instrumentation ‘75 from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is an avid boater, both power and sail, and is a member of both the Eastport Yacht Club and the Annapolis Yacht Club. He and his partner, Joyce Pratt, reside in Annapolis, Maryland and Portland, Maine.

President | Komar Distribution Services | Chief Operating Officer | Komar Brands

Education:

• S., Maine Maritime Academy, Nautical Science, 1973

Career Highlights:

• Komar Brands (since 1983)
  • President of Komar Distribution Services
  • Chief Operating Officer
    • propelled the company from $20 million to a billion-dollar powerhouse
  • North Sails (1973 – 1982)

Distinguished Service:

• pivotal roles at North Sails and Komar Brands, where he drove both companies to a commanding 60% market share.
• patents:
  • US4383492A– 1983-05-17, Furling sail with protective panels
  • US7445227B2– 2008-11-04, Ski with improved edging characteristics
• sailing achievements include securing a collegiate championship victory, achieving multiple world ocean racing podium finishes, notably earning the esteemed Cygnet Cup from the New York Yacht Club, and playing a role within Dennis Connor’s America’s Cup team.
• pioneered North University’s sail courses, empowering countless sailors globally.
• orchestrating operational excellence and championing technological advancement

speaking engagements with students and faculty at Maine Maritime Academy

Executive Vice President of Seiden Krieger Associates has over 37 years of experience as an accomplished maritime logistics executive leading human resources and talent management. Joining the firm in 2013, Tom leads the Transportation and Logistics search practice, with a specialty in the maritime sector. Following a career dedicated to the transportation sector, Tom possesses a vast global network of contacts within the industry. His expertise spans various sectors with international and domestic accountability, including marine transportation, logistics, oil & gas, and supply chain. By leveraging his business leadership and industry knowledge, Tom recruits professionals across all functions, including C-suite, and various senior roles in operations, marketing, trade, sales, procurement, human resources, finance, IT, engineering/technical, HSE and risk management.

Tom’s prior career is one of progressive impactful leadership roles in human resources, labor relations, operations and regulatory compliance. Those successes were achieved in major oil & gas, and international transportation/logistics companies such as Hapag-Lloyd, US Shipping, Amerada Hess, Sea-Land Service, Puerto Rico Marine Management, and Moran Towing and Transportation.

Tom has been active in numerous professional organizations including the Containerized Shipping Executive Human Resources Group (CSI), the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Association of Supply Chain Management (ASCM) and the Greater Philadelphia Human Resources Planning Society.

Tom has volunteered for leadership roles for various organizations, including board member and co-founder of the International Employers Forum (IEF), DelVal Chapter President of the Maine Maritime Alumni Association, Commodore/Board Member of the Mid-Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, President/Board Member of The Cottagers’ Association of Cape May, and Commodore/Board Member of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May.

A 1987 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Tom also earned his master’s degree in business administration from Pfeiffer University.

Dale Thomas, PhD is a serial entrepreneur and venture partner at Praxis Ventures, specializing in investments that bridge software, hardware, and marketplaces within advanced manufacturing. As the founder and former CEO of Mytide Therapeutics, he pioneered robotic biomimetic manufacturing, secured VC funding, and scaled the team to >25 professionals. Under his leadership, Mytide built a software marketplace tied to a robotic manufacturing system to deliver exceptional speed, quality, and customization for biotech and major pharmaceutical companies.

As a proud Maine Maritime Academy graduate, Dale earned a Marine Systems Engineering 5-year (MSE5) program in four years and was class Valedictorian in 2013. He also holds a PhD and MEngM from MIT in Mechanical Engineering. His extensive Mechanical and Chemical Engineering background informs his multidisciplinary contributions across robotics, digital chemistry, renewable energy, and marine engineering. With over seven patents, several of his innovations have been licensed by industry leaders such as Tesla, Ambri, Cambrex (formerly Snapdragon), Amide Technologies, and Mytide Therapeutics. Dale currently resides in Boston, MA, where he continues to drive innovation in advanced manufacturing.

Len Tyler received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ithaca College. He also completed sabbaticals with House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, American Institute of Merchant Shipping (AIMS); Maritime Administration (MARAD); Keystone Shipping Company, and Trinidad Marine. Following college graduation he taught for 2 years in Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1969 he started his 42-year tenure at Maine Maritime Academy which included coaching, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Director of Summer Programs, Director of Placement and Cadet Shipping, Director of Advanced Maritime Studies, V.P. of External Affairs, V.P. of Advancement and for 16 years, President until his retirement in 2010. He also served as President of the Maine Association of Financial Aid Administrators; Chair of the International Association of Maritime Universities, and President of Growing our Own Teachers on Kauai, and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bureau of Shipping.

Currently he and his wife reside in Princeville on the Island of Kauai, and spend summers in Castine, Maine.

Wayne Norton is a 1986 MMA graduate. For the last 30 years Wayne has worked in the Commercial Nuclear Industry. Wayne started his nuclear career as the Construction Coordinator at Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co. in 1991 and held various management positions at the Nuclear Plant during the operations and shutdown of the facility. Mr. Norton led the decommissioning of Maine Yankee, Connecticut Yankee and Yankee Rowe nuclear plants following their shutdown and led the development of their respective spent nuclear fuel storage facilities. Over the last 21 years Wayne has held the positions of President of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co., Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co., and Yankee Atomic Electric Company.

Mr. Norton lives in Gorham, Maine with his wife Kelley and they have 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.

Graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in 1986 with a B.S. in Marine Engineering, from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in 1993 and 1999, respectively, earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle control. Current MMAAA Board member; Chair, Financial Support Committee, and previous member of the MMA – Campaign Core Team. Serves as the Chief Executive Officer for R&P Technologies, a small business focusing on program management, engineering, cybersecurity, logistics and post-delivery industrial services for Naval Surface Shipbuilding programs and Navy Surface Fleet Maintenance operations. Oversees Wareham Technologies, a SDVOSB company, that concentrates on program support, strategic management consulting, support for shipbuilding proposals, and shipbuilding production analysis. President, TruBar Foundation, Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to end Veteran Homelessness. After a 27-year Navy career, retired in 2013 as an Engineering Duty Officer, with 20+ years of shipbuilding experience. Managed two major programs; the $16.5B Amphibious Warfare Program (PMS 377) and the $15B Littoral Combat Ship Program (PMS 501). Acquisition Professional, certified in Program Management; Production, Quality and Manufacturing; and Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering.

On May 22, 2024, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Wayne Norton announced that the Board had voted unanimously to appoint Craig Johnson ’91 as Interim President of Maine Maritime Academy effective June 2.

Johnson has been a leader in the maritime industry for more than three decades. After graduating from MMA, Johnson sailed on tankers prior to working ashore all with Hess Corporation. He later worked for Seacor Holdings (Seabulk) and Carnival Cruise Lines. As a founder of Flagship Management, a worldwide maritime industry recruiting and consulting firm, Johnson has a thorough understanding of the professional needs of the industries that employ MMA graduates. He currently serves on the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee, appointed by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Before his appointment as interim president, Johnson served as the Chief Operating Officer of Maine Maritime Academy since August of 2022. During his tenure, he has overseen the Academy’s finances, facilities, and operations, as well as Advancement and Alumni affairs. Under Johnson’s leadership as COO, he has managed all Academy operations including multi-million-dollar construction initiatives, as well as the pursuit of new sources of revenue, particularly by advocating for the passage of L.D. 2092, an act to bring greater parity to state funding of the Academy relative to other state institutions. He has made progress fostering additional strategic partnerships with maritime sector leaders including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Bath Iron Works. These partnerships, in collaboration with the Academy’s exceptional faculty, have created new academic programming aligned with MMA’s strategic goals.

As an alumnus, his connections within the Academy community are deep and meaningful. He has supported Academy athletics and fundraising for many years and introduced the Admiral’s Dinner to connect with the industries that support Maine Maritime students.

Johnson is an accomplished sailor and was the head sailing coach at the University of Miami for 15 years. He also coached at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Boston College. Johnson has made the return of MMA’s sailing team to prominence a priority with a lofty goal of winning an Offshore National Championship.