In 2017, Arnie Tyler founded MerLion Advisory Group as a security consulting company with expertise in Maritime Domain Awareness and Response. This expertise is rooted in decades of U.S. Navy and energy industry “command and control” and patrol boat operations covering the sea-land “seam” of operations such as found in ports, waterways, and coastal / near shore pipeline construction projects. This complex environment is where risk is multi-dimensional and real solutions are comprehensive. As a result, MerLion continues to adapt with solutions that fuse human capabilities with developing autonomous technologies.

Arnie’s operational experience began as a nuclear engineer and Surface Warfare Officer onboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) ad culminated in five Commanding Office tours in coastal security operations in port of the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Success in world-wide maritime and shore-based anti-terrorism and force protection operations led to selection as a classified programs Facility Security Officer and Vice President, Security and Defense Programs in the vessel recycling industry. These roles, combined with regional security responsibilities in the energy industry, have al fed into his current vision for MerLion, which is to be a leader in human-technology applications to ensure maritime safety, security, and environmental sustainability for his clients.

Tyler’s education includes a Master’s degree in Security Management for Executives, “Navy equivalent” advanced training in Nuclear Engineering, and under-graduate degrees in Physics and Mathematics. He is a Texas licensed “Qualified Security Manager.” And operates a Texas “Security Training School,” primarily supporting critical infrastructure objectives. He holds numerous U.S. Navy Commanding Officer and Security certifications while receiving related awards from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and U.S. Coast Guard, alongside personal and unit commendations from the U.S. Embassy and both British and Australian military leaders.

Rohit Saxena is an award-winning leader recognized for strategy formulation, proactive approach to problem-solving, and delivering results in dynamic, demanding environments. His 25 years of global experience involves guiding sizeable, cross-functional teams and wide range of stakeholders to successfully plan and deliver major capital projects and infrastructure initiatives across various sectors that include ports, urban planning, rail, energy, education, and management of capital works programs.

In his current role as Director, Facility Planning, Rohit oversees the execution of Port Houston’s strategic and long-range planning functions and serves as executive advisor to leadership for the development of infrastructural growth and capital improvements project as well as repurposing of existing assets to support maritime operations, intermodal transportation, and enhance the Port’s market capitalization. He led the development of Port Houston’s 2040 Plan and is also supporting the program management of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion–Project 11.

Rohit is passionate about building high-performing teams and specializes in the delivery of complex long-term programs and projects. His abilities extend across strategic master planning, program and project management, business analytics, procurement advice, stakeholder management, and risk management, and he has been recognized for professional excellence by Port Houston and the Australian Institute of Project Management.

Maria joined Port Houston in April of 2021 and is the Director of Community Relations.

Prior to joining the Port, she worked at Avenue CDC where she served as the Director of Community Initiatives. Her accomplishments include securing a $1.5 million dollars in grants for capacity building and advocacy efforts in the Greater Northside.

Maria was also selected as the 2020 NFL Houston Texans Campeón de la Comunidad, which honors an outstanding leader in the Latino community who is making a positive impact on the city of Houston through service and dedication to a local non-profit.

Maria is a Cum Laude graduate of Baylor University, with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. She is also a Certified Associate in Project Management. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Psychology from Harvard University – Extension school.

Jean-Paul Rodrigue is Professor at the Department of Maritime Business Administration at Texas A&M University – Galveston. He received a Ph.D. in Transport Geography from the Université de Montréal (1994).

Dr. Rodrigue sits on the international editorial board of the Journal of Transport Geography, Transport Reviews, the Journal of Shipping and Trade, and the Cahiers Scientifiques du Transport. He is a board member of the University Transportation Research Center, Region II of the City University of New York, and is a lead member of the PortEconomics.eu initiative as well as of the International Association of Maritime Economists. Dr. Rodrigue was a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Future of Manufacturing (2011-2016). In 2013, the US Secretary of Transportation appointed Dr. Rodrigue to sit on the Advisory Board of the US Merchant Marine Academy, a position he held until 2018. He is also the New York team leader for the MetroFreight project about city logistics. He regularly performs advisory and consulting assignments for international organizations and corporations and is interviewed by the media over transportation-related matters.

Dr. Rodrigue has authored 7 books, 32 book chapters, more than 60 peer-reviewed papers, numerous reports, and delivered more than 175 conferences and seminar presentations, mostly at the international level. He ranks among the top 2% most cited scholars in the world and among the top 100 in the field of transport and logistics (67 as of 2023). His paper about port regionalization became one of the world’s most cited works in maritime transportation. His book about the global economic space, has been published by Les Presses de l’Universté du Québec and won the 2001 PricewaterhouseCoopers award (Prix du livre d’affaire) for the best French business-related book published in North America. His high-impact textbook, The Geography of Transport Systems (Online Version), was first published by Routledge in July 2006 and is now in its fifth edition. His co-authored textbook, Port Economics, Management and Policy, was published in January 2022. He is also co-editor of the Sage Handbook of Transport Studies. In 2019, he was the recipient of the Edward L. Ullman Award for outstanding contribution to the field of transport geography by the American Association of Geographers. In 2022, Dr. Rodrigue was appointed a Distinguished Fellow at the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study / Department of Maritime Administration, Texas A&M University.

Born and raised in Sydney, Cape Breton, Kathleen Yurchesyn is a passionate and engaged advocate for the region’s future growth and prosperity. A graduate of the Public Relations Degree program at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Kathleen is currently the Vice President of Operations and Corporate Development with Novaporte – a 2000+ acre transformational port development that will serve as a hub on North America’s East Coast for offshore wind development and green energy production and export.

Previously, Kathleen was the CEO of the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce for four years. During her time at the Chamber, she has implemented strategies to help grow the organization and region. She has also contributed to the local business community through her advocacy work – encouraging collaboration and cultivating positivity.

Kathleen’s skills include strategic development and implementation and corporate communications, along with organizational leadership and project management. She has demonstrated her ability throughout her career as a collaborative, self-directed and disciplined leader of projects and initiatives across many disciplines. She is committed to and passionate about the growth and revitalization of Cape Breton and the Province of Nova Scotia.

Will Marshall is the Freight Program Manager for the Electrification Coalition. He supports efforts to advance the electrification of the goods movement industry and other critical EV policies and programs. In his position, Will collaborates with stakeholders to scale freight electrification by identifying and aggregating industry best practices, sources of government funding, and incentive opportunities. Before joining the Electrification Coalition, Will was the Senior Legislative Assistant at Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, a D.C.-based bipartisan lobbying firm, supporting a portfolio of clients in the energy and transportation sectors.

Will graduated from George Washington University with a MA in Environmental Resource Policy, where his research focused on medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleet electrification. He also holds a BA in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.

James Nash has 30+ years of experience in the maritime, port, land transportation and logistics segments of the transportation industry. He holds a Bachelor Degree and Master of Maritime Administration and Logistics from Texas A&M University.

James started his career with Evergreen Marine in operations and has since held various challenging commercial, sales and operations positions with container carriers, breakbulk ocean carrier, third party logistics, port authorities, terminal operator, and ship agency.

In January 2022, James joined the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA) as Director, Maritime Affairs. He is responsible for working with and on behalf of WGMA’s membership of steamship owners, operators, agents, stevedores, terminal operators, and stakeholders, as an active advocate and liaison for the maritime industry.

He is actively involved in many industry associations, committees, and boards throughout the Gulf Coast Region.

Mr. Hansen is a graduate of the USCG Chief Petty Officer’s Academy (2015), serving as class President and recipient of the “Altus Tendo” award. He currently maintains certification as a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP), ALERRT Active Shooter Instructor, Pro Board Accredited Firefighter I, and EMT-Basic (Texas).

A 45+ year veteran of the maritime industry, Robert Hawn began his career in Beaumont, Texas, as a fledgling shipping agent, gradually moving upward and outward. During his career he has worked with virtually every kind of ship in existence, arranging port calls through more than 15 ports across the U.S. Gulf as well as in the ports surrounding Norfolk, Virginia.

He has vast experience in commercial shipping operations, including more than 30 years in various management positions with several leading U.S. shipping agencies. Hawn joined West Gulf Maritime Association in 2014, and in that position had daily responsibility for working with its members, such as shipping agents, stevedores, local ports, terminals, associated industry partners and government entities to ensure business continuity across many of the ports leading the nation in growth and overall tonnage. He was promoted to Vice President, Maritime Affairs, in November 2021.

He currently serves on 4 different Harbor Safety Committees of the Western Gulf, is Regional Vice President for the Western US Gulf Region of the International Propeller Club and is heavily involved with many other industry affiliated boards and committees throughout the region.

Jennifer States brings 25 years of renewable energy, maritime sustainability and clean tech expertise in industry, non-profit, government and research environments. Her experience includes Blue Sky Maritime Coalition, Washington Maritime Blue, DNV, Port of Port Angeles, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, juwi (wind development company) as well as serving as an elected City Councilor (City of Sequim, WA). Her greatest accomplishments include supporting launch and leadership for three sustainability non-profits, implementation of Federal renewable energy policy and driving development of clean tech projects. In 2020, she testified in Congress on new structures to support cross-cutting energy and maritime commercialization activities, leading to the launch of the Department of Energy Foundation. She also helped lead the UN Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform sprints on Harnessing Ocean Energy and Shipping Decarbonization.

About Blue Sky Maritime Coalition

Blue Sky Maritime Coalition (the Coalition) is a non-profit, strategic alliance formed to accelerate the transition of waterborne transportation in Canada and the United States toward net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Coalition brings together industry, community, government, academic leadership, and other stakeholders across the waterborne transportation value chain to action projects that remove barriers to accelerating development, encourage innovation, and promote policies in support of zero emissions. Learn more at www.bluesky-maritime.org.