Alaska Marine Safety

Education Association

Chair - Jim Herbert

Jim retired as the head of the Maritime Department at the Alaska Vocational Technical Education Center (AVTEC) in Seward, Alaska. Jim has been an active commercial fisherman and marine safety instructor and safety advocate since the 1970's.

Vice Chair - Scott Carson
Alaska Depargtment of Public Safety Training Academy

Secretary/Treasurer - Troy Tirrell

Troy is a commercial fisherman from Cordova and he has fished many of Alaska fisheries. He is also an accredited marine surveyor and member of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS).

Peggy Barry

Peggy became involved in fishing vessel safety after the death of her son, who was lost at sea. She was instrumental at getting the Safety Act of 1988 passed. She lives in Washington, DC.

Gordon Blue

Gordon has commercially fished from New Zealand to the Bering Sea and has been active in a number of fisheries organizations. He is now an Episcopal priest serving at Saint Peters by-the-Sea in Sitka. He also does respite support.

Paula Cullenberg
University of Alaska, Marine Advisory Program (MAP)

Paula is the program leader at the Alaska Marine Advisory Program. Based in Anchorage, she and her family have commercially fished in Bristol Bay for many years. Paula was previously head of the Observer Training Center in Anchorage and is an AMSEA instructor.

Kathy O'Gara
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)

Kathy is the health promotion manager for SEARHC. She is based out of Sitka and works with and in the 18 SEARHC communities throughout Southeast Alaska providing a wide range of injury prevention intiatives.

Advisory Members

Jennifer Lincoln
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), Division of Safety Research

Jennifer is the Deputy Director of the NIOSH, Alaska Pacific Regional Office in Anchorage. She conducts research on occupational injury prevention, specializing in fishing vessel safety.

Kenneth M. Lawrenson
17th District, USCG

Ken took over the position of Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator in Alaska for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2006. Previous to his move to Juneau, Ken was invloved in fishing vessel safety in Oregon.

Mike Folkerts (alternate: Mike Swanson)
17th District MOC, USCG

Mike is the Boating Safety Specialist for the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska.

Deborah Hull-Jilly
State of Alaska, Injury Prevention & EMS

Deborah is Alaska Public Health Department's Injury Prevention Unit Manager. She is charged with increasing public awareness and actions on behalf of injury prevention, and encouraging interventions statewide in injury prevention and control.

Antoinelle Thompson
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Hank Pennington
Technical Advisor

Hank is the retired Fishing Vessel Safety Specialist for the Alaska Marine Advisory program. He was one AMSEA's founding members and continues to be involved with AMSEA projects.