Tony Zhong is the Chief Information Security Officer at the Port of Los Angeles. In this role, he manages the Port’s cybersecurity program, Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) and Cyber Resilience Center (CRC). Throughout his career, he has been involved in protecting critical infrastructures, supply chains, digital assets and services. Additionally, he collaborates with various public and private organizations on cyber initiatives.

Tony currently chairs the CRC executive and technical committees, co-chairs the ChainPort Cybersecurity workgroup with international ports since April 2022  and chairs the Cybersecurity committee for the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) from 2019 to present. Tony is a subject matter expert in various cybersecurity disciplines along with possessing many industry cybersecurity certifications.

Kirstin Collins serves as the Operations Support Team Lead at Greensea IQ, where she works to connect innovative robotic hull maintenance solutions with the practical realities of maritime operations. Drawing on over a decade of seagoing maritime experience and several years of sailing as Captain and Chief Mate aboard commercial vessels, Kirstin brings a hands-on perspective to her role. Kirstin is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Transportation.

At Greensea IQ, Kirstin has focused her efforts on the EverClean hull grooming solution. This revolutionary system offers cutting-edge blue technology that significantly benefits the maritime sector and the world by demonstrably reducing the carbon footprint associated with maritime activities. Kirstin’s primary focus lies in navigating the complexities of port operations, regulatory compliance, and biofouling management, enabling meaningful change in the maritime industry.

Dr. Shelby Thomas is the CEO of Tidal Sails US, a company dedicated to advancing sustainable ocean energy solutions. With a background in marine science and conservation, Thomas brings a unique perspective to the renewable energy sector. At Tidal Sails US, she leads efforts to develop and implement innovative tidal energy technologies that harness the power of ocean currents to generate clean electricity.

By transforming ocean currents into electricity through an innovative cable-and-sail mechanism, Tidal Sails aims to provide a scalable, environmentally friendly solution that can be deployed globally, potentially revolutionizing marine-based renewable energy production.

As CEO, Thomas oversees strategic partnerships, technology development, and project implementation for Tidal Sails US. She is committed to driving the transition towards renewable energy sources and contributing to the global effort to combat climate change through innovative ocean-based solutions. Her expertise in marine ecosystems and sustainable development has been instrumental in ensuring that the company’s technologies work in harmony with ocean environments.

In addition to her role at Tidal Sails US, Dr. Thomas is the founder and CEO of Ocean Rescue Alliance (ORA), a marine conservation and restoration non-profit organization. Under her leadership, ORA has deployed over 200 reef installations in Florida, launched the innovative 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project, and implemented the Coral Rangers citizen science program. Thomas has also established key partnerships to advance marine restoration efforts, combining art, science, and community engagement in her approach to ocean conservation.

Dr. Thomas holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida, where she previously earned her M.S. in Interdisciplinary Ecology and B.S. in Marine Science and Microbiology.

Darious Moore has over 20 years of experience in Cyber Security running SOC operations. He has been with IBM for over 18 years and is currently a Delivery Project Executive in IBM’s Security Services vertical. Darious co-manages the Port of Los Angeles’ Cyber Resilience Center operations.

IBM Cybersecurity Services is a global team of experts that deliver advisory, integration , and managed security services. IBM is a trusted partner to some of the world’s largest organizations in helping improve the resilience of their security programs: help protect their data, identities, and workloads; and help predict, prevent, and respond to threats. IBM Is also the implementation partner for the Port of Los Angeles Cyber Resilience Center.

Linda Sternheimer, Senior Vice President Urban Planning and Engagement Linda Sternheimer serves as SVP of Urban Planning and Engagement for the Port of Cleveland, heading up high profile civil works initiatives and special projects from planning to execution.

Ms. Sternheimer is responsible for management of the $65 million stabilization efforts at Irishtown Bend (ITB) opening and management of the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (CLNP) and the visionary Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy (CHEERS). CHEERS is a visionary effort to transform Cleveland’s east side Lake Erie waterfront using sediment dredged from the Cuyahoga River to create a shoreline that is protective of infrastructure yet available for people. Ms. Sternheimer is a member of the American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute and Women in Transportation.

Prior to joining the Port Authority team, Ms. Sternheimer was the Northeast Asset Manager for National Equity Fund, Inc responsible for a portfolio covering six states and the District of Columbia.

Ms. Sternheimer holds a master’s in business administration from the Weatherhead School of Management as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Mandel Center at Case Western Reserve University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

As executive director of the Port of Seattle, Steve Metruck leads a county-wide special purpose government responsible for providing world-class trade, travel, and logistics services to one of the nation’s most dynamic and fastest growing regions. The Port manages operations for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – one of the nation’s busiest passenger airports – as well as cruise, commercial fishing, grain terminals, recreational marinas, and other real estate activities. The Port also operates one of North America’s largest maritime cargo shipping gateways through the Northwest Seaport Alliance, a joint effort with the Port of Tacoma. As executive director, Metruck leads 1,900 employees who deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality services to the region while improving local economic opportunities and safeguarding our environment. The Port of Seattle is one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading economic engines, generating over 216,000 jobs and $894 million in state and local taxes.

Metruck came to the Port of Seattle following a 34-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring as a Rear Admiral. He has experience across a diverse range of operations and executivelevel assignments on both coasts, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico. As the Chief Financial Officer for the Coast Guard, Metruck was responsible for all Coast Guard financial management and execution of the service’s $10 billion annual appropriation. As Commander of the Fifth District in Portsmouth, Virginia, he had overall responsibility for the full range of U.S. Coast Guard missions carried out from central New Jersey to North Carolina.

Throughout his career, Metruck has maintained a strong record of advancing a diverse and safe workplace. He is currently leading the Port through a groundbreaking effort to increase diversity in contracting and is supporting expansion of internal employee resource groups and efforts to increase diversity at the Port. Metruck emphasized employee safety and diversity during his Coast Guard career as well. He served three years on the Coast Guard’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Task force and as a member of the Coast Guard Academy’s Board of Trustees, he oversaw significant increases in the diversity of the student body.

Marco (Marc) Ayala brings decades of expertise in process automation, safety systems, and industrial control networks, with extensive focus on securing the energy, oil and gas, maritime, offshore, and chemical sectors. A seasoned ISA leader, cybersecurity advocate, InfraGard Houston President, and USCG AMSC Cyber Chair for the Gulf of Mexico. He is highly active in the International Society of Automation and is a longtime member and newly elected into the Executive Board. He is an ISA Fellow and a certified cyber instructor for ISA (62443).

Mitch Merriam is the Vice President-Borders and Maritime Security for the K2 Security Screening Group, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Mitch’s portfolio includes K2’s Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) Program contract with the DHS-Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office supporting RPM deployments for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Mitch has over 27 years of federal law enforcement leadership experience, he’s a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and he retired as a career member of the U.S. Senior Executive Service (SES) with the CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO).

Prior to joining K2, Mitch served in numerous executive leadership roles with CBP, to include tours as the CBP-OFO Executive Director-Operations (A), Area Port Director-Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Area Port Director- New Orleans, Port Director-Tecate CA, Deputy Commander-Joint Field Command Arizona, and as the Director-Tactical Operations at CBP-OFO HQ.

As the Executive Director, Operations (XD-OPS) at CBP Headquarters, Mitch provided daily operational leadership, strategic vision, and oversight to 20 regional Field Offices, 328 Ports of Entry and 16 Preclearance stations in Canada, Ireland, the Middle East, and Caribbean, with more than 28,000 employees and an operating budget of over $3.5 billion.

As the CBP Area Port Director at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Mitch directed a workforce of more than 1,000 CBP officers, specialists and trade professionals screening and processing more than 10 million passengers and over one million cargo shipments annually. His responsibilities included the oversight of international passenger and cargo inspections, immigration and trade enforcement, narcotics interdiction, agricultural inspections, and airport security programs at LAX, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, John Wayne and Ontario International Airports, and general aviation facilities across Southern California.

In 2012, Mr. Merriam received his initial Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment as the Deputy Commander – Joint Field Command Arizona. As the Deputy from 2012-2014, he assisted the Commander in directing a new joint and integrated CBP approach to border security and was responsible for the operational lay down and deployment of more than 6000 CBP Officers, Border Patrol and Air Interdiction Agents, and resources of the Tucson and Yuma Border Patrol Sectors, the Tucson Field Office and the Tucson, Sierra Vista, and Yuma Air Branches.

Mr. Merriam’s law enforcement career began in 1991 as a Customs Inspector at the Port of Boston. After transferring to San Diego in 1995, he worked his way up the ranks to Chief Inspector at the San Ysidro border crossing and Port Director in Tecate, CA. After a tour as Director of Tactical Operations at CBP-OFO headquarters, he served four years as the CBP Area Port Director in New Orleans, Louisiana, rebuilding and integrating CBP’s operational capabilities post-Katrina.

Mr. Merriam has extensive leadership experience in a wide variety of border security and law enforcement environments as part of numerous training, emergency response, diplomatic and operational assignments in the U.S., Eastern Europe, SE Asia, South America, Canada, Mexico and Africa, and he volunteered as an Advisor on the Border Management Task Force in Kabul, Afghanistan during 2006-2007, where he helped establish the DHS advisory program in support of the Afghanistan Customs Department and Afghanistan Border Police.

Mr. Merriam is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and the DHS Executive Capstone Programs. He supported the CBP Leadership Institute and DHS SES Development Programs as an executive mentor, and he was a frequent keynote speaker at CBP Officer and Agriculture Specialists graduation ceremonies at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Professional Development Center.

Mr. Merriam holds an Associate of Science degree from Johnson and Wales University and he proudly served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a tour as a Drill Instructor/Water Survival Instructor.

Since joining BMT in 1992, Phil has held various senior executive appointments within BMT’s global maritime businesses and now leads BMT’s Simulation & Training Product division.

Previously, Phil was a professor at the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech, USA. He holds a PhD in Naval Architecture. Phil has, over many years, led developments in simulation and maritime digital forensics and has published papers and co-authored books on incident reconstruction. Several of these tools have been adopted by the world’s leading statutory maritime accident investigation agencies worldwide.

Starr Long has been making videogames and technology for over 30 years. During his  career, he helped start the MMO industry and has created some of the largest Active Digital Twins ever built. He is the former Project Director of Ultima Online, which is now the longest running MMO in history and holds 8 Guinness World Records. In 2000, he co-founded Destination Games, acquired later that year by NCsoft. In 2008, Starr was  named one of the Top 20 Most Influential People in the Massively Multiplayer Online Industry by Beckett Massive Online Gamer Magazine. In 2009, Starr joined The Walt Disney Company as an Executive Producer where he was in charge of multiple live virtual worlds, Disney Connected Learning, the Disney Parent App, and Club Penguin Mobile. During his tenure, My Disney Connected Learning mobile apps ranked in the top 10 in iOS educational and kids games (4 of top 5).  He co-designed and patented a Social Graph Player Matchmaking Service (US Patent 9021369). He was the Executive Producer for the RPG Shroud of the Avatar at Portalarium, currently the second highest crowdfunded video game ever to ship. Starr is the owner of the video game consulting company: Stellar Effect (www.stellareffect.com).

Starr currently works at The Acceleration Agency (taa.io) whose clients include Carnival Corporation, Universal, Disney, INVI Mindhealth, the Port of Corpus Christi and more. His projects at TAA include large scale Active Digital Twins, a biometric driven suicide prevention app, a music marketplace, and an interactive video theatre platform.