Marine Transportation Systems (CG-5PW)

Prior to his role as Director, Mike Emerson was assigned as the Coast Guard Senior Arctic Advisor, following a three year assignment in the Office of Operations Coordination at the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters.  As Arctic Advisor, he directed daily production of Service Chief-level reports to highlight operations and outcomes of Arctic initiatives, and led international and interagency maritime domain awareness programs, including projects in Arctic regions.

Mike Emerson retired from the Coast Guard in 2014, following an exciting 30 year career.  His tours of duty included Senior Fellow for the CNO Strategic Studies Group in Newport, RI; Chief of Aviation Forces in Headquarters; Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, FL; and Chief of Drug Interdiction in Headquarters.

Mike Emerson is a specialist in Coast Guard missions, at sea and in the air.  His operational career began with two tours afloat as First Lieutenant of Cutter CHEROKEE, and Executive Officer of Cutter VASHON conducting rescues and law enforcement along the east coast and throughout the Caribbean.  Afterward, he earned his aviator wings at Pensacola, FL, and served multiple tours in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Florida, providing flight support for each of the 11 Coast Guard missions.  He is an experienced C-130 pilot and instructor.  He has over 4,000 hours of flight time, and instructed for 13 years.

A native of Norfolk, VA, Mike Emerson proudly began the third generation of Emerson's serving in the Coast Guard.  He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Government Degree, and has since received a Masters Degree in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from American Military University.  He currently lives in Owings Maryland with his wife Becky and two daughters, Becca and Leah.  He is also supporting two more daughters at Florida State University.

Captain Kevin C. Kiefer serves as Deputy Director of the Coast Guard’s Marine Transportation Systems Directorate at US Coast Guard Headquarters. He is responsible for a wide variety of navigation safety and security functions including Waterways Management, Aids to Navigation, Domestic and Polar Ice Operations, Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning, Permitting for Bridges, and Arctic Programs.

Prior to assuming his current position, he was Chief of Staff for the First District in Boston, Massachusetts where he directed more than 11,000 Coast Guard and Auxiliary personnel, along with 30 cutters, 200 boats, and 7 aircraft, responsible for executing Coast Guard missions across eight Northeast states from the US/Canadian border to New Jersey.

He previously served as the Coast Guard Sector Commander of Baltimore, Maryland where his area of responsibility included all Coast Guard missions throughout the state and the National Capitol Region (NCR). In this role, he served as Captain of the Port, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection, and the region’s Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator. He was also the maritime lead for the Joint Force Headquarters NCR Executive Team, a single-point central office of the five military branches and NORAD for planning, coordination and execution of operational military service missions in the NCR.

Prior to his time in Baltimore, Captain Kiefer held the position of Chief, Office of Port and Facility Compliance at Coast Guard Headquarters. He was also a delegate to the International Maritime Organization where he worked on port and global supply chain security and maritime trade recovery. During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Spill of National Significance oil spill response, Captain Kiefer served as Staff Director/Current Plans at the National Incident Command.

Captain Kiefer served as Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Huntington, WV and Executive Officer of Marine Safety Office (MSO) Corpus Christi, TX, during which time he was the lead planner for the nation’s largest military outload operation in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Other field tours included MSO Tampa, FL and the Coast Guard Cutter VALIANT.

Captain Kiefer graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering in 1989. He earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering (Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering) and a Master of Engineering degree (Manufacturing) from the University of Michigan.

Personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and Army Achievement Medal.