THE SEEBALD & ASSOCIATES TEAM

Commander Ed Seebald, Founding President and CEO of Seebald & Associates International, has over 37 years of experience in leadership and management within the international maritime community.

A graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy with a B.S. degree in Management, CDR Seebald pursued his post-graduate studies at the United States Naval War College, where he specialized in maritime operations, national security and decision-making, and strategy and policy. He also attended the Navy Shipboard Security and Engagement Tactics program, an anti-terrorism course taught by the United States Navy SEALS.

Throughout his long and distinguished Coast Guard career, CDR Seebald was dedicated to the cause of national and international maritime security in posts from the Bering Sea to the South Pacific, and from the Arctic Circle to the Coast of South America. During his tenure at sea, he was involved in counter narcotics operations, stemming the tide of illegal immigrants, command and control of coastal facilities, and maritime security and safety training in the Dominican Republic, Solomon Islands and Latvia.

Following his retirement from the Coast Guard in 2003, CDR Seebald has grown Seebald & Associates to be the preeminent international maritime security consulting firm.

Commander Sundland joined Seebald & Associates in 2016 as a senior project manager after serving over 27 years in the Coast Guard. He has comprehensive maritime security and enforcement experience with the Federal process, and brings over 10 years of project and financial management with proven success in several high visibility projects.

CDR Sundland has over 20 years of experience in strategic and operational leadership and management in the U.S. Coast Guard. He specialized in operations ashore in the missions of law enforcement, maritime security response operations, ports waterways and coastal security, defense operations and search and rescue.

CDR Sundland holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Master of Science in Information Systems from George Mason University. He’s a member of the Project Management Institute and a certified Project Management Professional since 2008.

Brian Kelley is a retired Coast Guard Captain. During his first career, his multi-mission experience ranged from Coast Guard afloat commands and shore-based Captain of the Port operations to command centers, human resource management, contingency planning, and budgeting. His second career with Seebald & Associates has focused on improving maritime port reliability through facility problem-solving, which has included security assessments, planning, audits, and training.

Ron Frechette is a cybersecurity entrepreneur and executive advisor with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations strengthen cybersecurity, manage risk, and navigate today’s evolving regulatory landscape.

As Founder and CEO of CyberSurv, Ron leads a cybersecurity governance and advisory firm specializing in cyber resilience, risk management, compliance, and AI-enabled security solutions. Through CyberSurv’s strategic partnership with Seebald & Associates International, he works with ports, terminals, vessel operators, and other critical infrastructure organizations to prepare for the U.S. Coast Guard’s cybersecurity requirements under 33 CFR Part 101 Subpart F.

Ron also serves as a Managing Partner of Turbo AI Solutions, helping organizations leverage artificial intelligence to automate cybersecurity, compliance, and business processes.

Prior to founding CyberSurv, Ron founded GoldSky Security, building the company into a successful cybersecurity consulting firm that was acquired in 2024. Earlier in his career, he held executive leadership positions with Coalfire Systems, helping expand its cybersecurity and compliance consulting practice throughout the Southeastern United States and Caribbean.

Throughout his career, Ron has advised organizations across the maritime, healthcare, defense, manufacturing, hospitality, financial services, and critical infrastructure sectors. His expertise includes cybersecurity governance, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, CMMC, AI governance, enterprise risk management, and executive security strategy.

A proud U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Ron is passionate about helping organizations build resilient cybersecurity programs that strengthen trust, protect critical operations, and enable long-term growth.

Building upon a long career in government and the private sector, John Felker works with senior leaders to see and understand the big cybersecurity picture, the risk, and the business impact of cyber threats. He brings wide-ranging leadership, organizational and business experiences that can help you prepare for the worst, help understand and address the issues, and ultimately, succeed. Felker is the former Assistant Director for Integrated Operations, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) where he brought focus to integrated operations across the Agency that extended to Regional CISA elements, intelligence, operational planning and mission execution with emphasis on risk mitigation and response efforts.

He previously served as the Director of the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center from 2015 to 2019. Prior to joining CISA, Felker worked as Director of Cyber and Intelligence Strategy for HP Enterprise Services and in a 30-year career, served as Deputy Commander, Coast Guard Cyber Command; Commander, Coast Guard Cryptologic Group, as Executive Assistant to the Director of Coast Guard Intelligence and commanded the cutters CAPE UPRIGHT and RED CEDAR.

He serves as a Senior Fellow at the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University, as a Senior Advisor to the Maritime Transportation System ISAC, as a Senior Advisor to S-RM an international cyber intelligence, response and resilience company and as a member of National Technology Security Coalition’s Advisory Council. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Operation Renewed Hope Foundation, the Boards of Advisors for the Military Cyber Professionals Association, and the Cyber Security Forum Initiative.

His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

A sought-after cybersecurity and leadership expert, Felker is a frequent speaker at national and international cybersecurity conferences.

Felker graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science and earned his Master of Arts in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and has co-authored several papers on cyber intelligence under the auspices of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance.

Captain Tucci is currently responsible for performing maritime facility security assessments, plans, and audits in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Transportation Security Act regulations for the marine industry at Seebald & Associates.

Captain Tucci accumulated a wealth of maritime security and safety knowledge during his diverse 28-year Coast Guard career. He served as a Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection, Federal On-Scene Coordinator & Federal Maritime Security Coordinator. As a qualified facility inspector, vessel inspector, and Federal On-Scene Coordinator, he has expert level knowledge of Coast Guard safety, security, and environmental regulations. He has extensive experience working with private industry, and with other federal, tribal, state, and local agencies.

As Chief of the Office of Port and Facility Compliance for four years, he oversaw implementation of MTSA regulations for facilities, as well as policies related to TWIC, Area Maritime Security Committee, Area Maritime Security Plans, and related programs focused on safety, security, and resilience for port facilities. Captain Tucci was a primary co-author of the U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Strategy, and pioneered Coast Guard cyber security policies for the maritime industry. At the International Maritime Organization in London, Captain Tucci led the U.S. delegation to the FAL (facilitation) committee, and also represented the United States at multiple meetings of the Marine Safety Committee. Captain Tucci was a contributing author to a Chatham House study on chokepoints and related risks to the global food trade.

Captain Tucci is an accomplished public speaker, whose career included providing training on maritime security and related topics to national and international industry groups, Area Maritime Security Committees, and local Coast Guard units. He was a frequent guest speaker at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown, and at local colleges and universities.

Professional Accreditation & Development:
Certified Maritime Facility Security Officer; National Incident Management System Incident Command System Courses (ICS -100. -200, -300, -341, -400, -410, -700, -800); Coast Guard Marine Inspector Course; Coast Guard Human Factors Engineering Course; Coast Guard Port Operations Course Coast Guard Contingency Preparedness and Deliberate Planning Course

Education:
M.S., Marine Affairs, University of Washington Certificate, Global Trade, Transportation, & Logistics, University of Washington

Captain John Bingaman, throughout a 30-year career, served in multi-marine safety and security capacities across the field, district, and area levels. He was a Captain of the Port, the Chief of Marine Safety for a District and Pacific Area Command, Chief of Staff for the Coast Guard’s training command, and Chief of Staff for one of the Coast Guard’s nine district commands. In his work with Seebald & Associates, CAPT Bingaman applies his marine security and safety experience by working with maritime facilities and professionals to conduct assessments, audits, training, and generate customized solutions. John is an active volunteer, applying his passion for financial planning through his Church and the Appalachian Service Project. He is also actively involved in forest management activities in Vermont and North Carolina.

Captain Joe Hester joined Seebald & Associates after a 30-year career as a Coast Guard Cutterman, serving on the US east, west, and gulf coasts. He served as Coast Guard Attaché in Colombia and Mexico and directed Coast Guard operations (oil/chemical spill response, law enforcement, search & rescue, maritime security, and icebreaking) throughout the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Western Rivers system.

Captain Hester holds a Bachelor of Science in Management, Masters degrees from the Joint Military Intelligence College (now National Intelligence University) and the US Army War College, graduated from the US Navy War College.

Rear Admiral Rendón has been with Seebald & Associates since 2020, performing maritime facility security assessments, plans, and audits in accordance with the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Transportation Security Act regulations for the marine industry. RADM Rendón has a wealth of maritime knowledge and experience, having completed a 40-year U.S. Coast Guard career, with his last assignment serving as the 41st Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. Prior to that assignment, he was Director, Joint Interagency Task Force West (JIATF West), the U.S. Pacific Command’s executive agent for planning and conducting counter-transnational organized crime strategy in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

Rear Admiral Rendón is a surface operations specialist having served as Commander, Sector Northern New England in Portland Maine, as well as, Chief of Response, Fifth Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, Virginia.

He is a cutterman with afloat tours as Deck Watch Officer aboard Durable, a 210-foot cutter home-ported in Brownsville, Texas, Executive Officer aboard the Patrol Boat Ocracoke in Puerto Rico, and Commanding Officer of the Surface Effect Ship Petrel in Key West, Florida. Other operational assignments consist of staff advisor, Seventh Coast Guard District Intelligence and Law Enforcement Branch in Miami, Florida, Operations Officer for Group Key West, Florida, as well as Commander, Coast Guard Group Mayport in Northeast Florida.

Rear Admiral Rendón served as Aide de Camp to the 20th Commandant of the Coast Guard. He also completed a Congressional Fellowship in our nation’s Capital, where he worked for the House of Representatives, Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, followed by a two-year assignment as Drug Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the House.

A 1983 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, Rear Admiral Rendón holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois. He also completed study at the National War College, Class of 2005, where he earned a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy.

Scott LaRochelle retired as a Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard after serving 30-plus years both home and abroad. LaRochelle possesses a vast skillset in search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, command centers, small boat operations, governmental and public affairs at District, Area, and HQ levels. As a Sector Commander, he directed U.S. Coast Guard’s SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC), Federal Maritime Security Commander (FMSC), Captain of the Port (COTP), and Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections (OCMI) functions.

After retiring from the Coast Guard, LaRochelle taught at both private and public high schools for 10 years.

LaRochelle received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Masters of Science in Public Relations from the University of Tennessee.

Captain Rich Rendon has over 46 years of leadership and management experience in military/government, corporate, small business, and academia. He earned a doctoral degree in Management, three master’s degrees (Business Administration, Civil Engineering, Homeland Defense and Security), a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and completed a multitude of training courses and certifications during his 46-year body of work.

Military/Government: Captain Rendon served 25 years as an active-duty US Coast Guard (CG) officer involving command of a CG cutter, command of a CG base, marine safety operations, and joint operations. Most relevant to his work at Seebald & Associates International were his responsibilities as Chief of Port Operations in the Captain of the Port zone of VA, NC, MD, and DE followed by his work a Chief of the CG Atlantic Area Maritime Transportation/Domain Awareness Branch and Charter Member of their Homeland Security Team following the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. He and the team developed new all-hazard security and first-response strategies and procedures for 38 states and oversaw their implementation. They developed risk assessment algorithms and grant program award concepts for security needs in the Atlantic region. His
analysis, manuscripts, and advocacy helped shape new CG and national legislation and regulations such as the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and the 96-hour Advance Notice of Arrival for commercial vessels. He also led an interagency, multi-state and industry stakeholder risk assessment of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) transport via Chesapeake Bay to Cove Point, MD. The effort became a template that led to a national standard evaluating LNG transportation through US waters. He then served one year as the CG Fellow and Vice President of the State Department’s “most advanced professional development program for senior foreign policy and national security officials of the United States Government.” He completed his career at NORAD/US NORTHCOM, where he represented CG equities and provided input to the Combatant Commander on all matters of Homeland Security, Defense Support to Civil Authorities and All-Hazards Preparedness.

Corporate: Rich’s work included business development, product development, advisory, and sales. He served as the national security specialist and leader of the CBRN (Chem/Bio/Rad/Nuke) First Responder Department for General Electric Homeland Protection, Inc., and was elevated to Director of Federal Programs for Morpho Detection Inc. after a joint venture between GE and the Safran Group of Europe. Later in his career he was the Global Enterprise Consultant for a corporate manufacturer of innovative natural health and wellness products.

Small Business: Rich started-up multiple home-based businesses. Most notable was a venture to develop his personal inventions which he designed, commercialized, and sold globally. He also worked in small businesses as a licensed realtor and licensed insurance underwriter.

Academia: Dr Rendon most recently taught Economics at the US Air Force Academy. He was also an Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University, teaching the Intrapreneurship & Innovation course in their undergraduate program and the capstone course of Strategic Management in their MBA Program. He also volunteered as a visiting instructor at Colorado Technical University, US NORTHCOM, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Early in his CG career, he taught College Algebra for multiple semesters in Miami, Fl.

Doctor of Management Dissertation: Leading and Following in the Digital Era: An exploratory study to discover emerging media mediators between transparent communication and behavioral integrity in manager relationships, 2015 (ProQuest Database).

Joe Carrigan brings over two decades of distinguished service and expertise in intelligence and cybersecurity to Seebald & Associates. As a retired Senior Chief from the U.S. Coast Guard, he held key leadership roles in national security operations and signals intelligence, including his work with the National Security Agency (NSA), U.S. Cyber Command and U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command. A pioneer in cyber operations, Joe was instrumental in establishing several Cyber mission teams and was among the first to earn certifications as a U.S. Navy Information Warfare-Warfare Tactics Instructor specializing in Cyberspace Operations. His extensive background in developing strategies for cyber-physical threat mitigation and leading diverse operational teams directly enhances Seebald & Associates’ mission to provide clients with the most robust and forward-thinking security solutions. Joe ensures clients not only meet but exceed compliance with U.S. federal laws while proactively addressing evolving cyber-physical threats.

John Halinski is currently the CEO partner of the SRI Group LLC formerly S&R Investments of VA LLC , a service-disabled veteran owned small business specializing in global security, technology and risk consulting opportunities. He was also the President and owner of Raloid Corporation a manufacturing facility specializing in sensitive DoD programs in Baltimore Maryland. He consults for the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO as well as other fortune 500 companies and several countries.

John became TSA’s Deputy Administrator in July 2012. As Deputy Administrator, he was responsible for helping TSA grow as a high-performance counterterrorism agency.

Halinski joined TSA in July 2004, serving in the Office of Global Strategies (OGS) before assuming his role as Deputy Administrator. In this capacity Halinski served as the COO for the 62,000-person TSA. He has spearheaded an operational and cultural change which has stressed a risk-based approach to security, the professional development of the TSA workforce and increasing stakeholder outreach. He commanded the TSA response to the LAX active shooting and from this developed a TSA active shooter mitigation program.

As Assistant Administrator for OGS from 2008 to 2012, Halinski was responsible for enhancing international transportation security through compliance, outreach and engagement, and capacity development. Key accomplishments included the advancement of measures to prevent and suppress all acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation and acting as the US Representative on Aviation Security for ICAO. As the Europe Area Manager/TSA Representative for OGS, Halinski was also responsible for all TSA operations and administrative activities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Additional accomplishments during his time at TSA include serving as the TSA/DHS lead for the 2006 Winter Olympics and acting as the TSA Representative for the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon in 2006. Halinski also served as the chief technical advisor for aviation security for the U.S. State Department negotiations on Open Skies agreements. He also developed and implemented a successful Africa engagement strategy for TSA, as well as the Safe Skies for Africa program.

In addition, Halinski directed the TSA response to international incidents including the international cargo plot of 2010, rebuilding of Haiti’s transportation security infrastructure following the 2010 earthquake, and the December 25, 2009 attempted terrorist bombing and printer bombing attempt.

Previously, Halinski served 25 years in the Marine Corps in a variety of intelligence and Special Operations positions. Highlights of this period include several successful tours involving counterterrorism, counter-drugs and counter-proliferation operations.

Halinski earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of TSA’s Senior Leadership Development Program and the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia. John Halinski is also on the Board of Advisors for Marymount University’s Intelligence Studies Program, The Board of Advisors for Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies and is a Senior Fellow with George Washington University on Homeland Security issues. John Halinski is also a frequent contributor to the media and has appeared as an expert commentator for NBC, CBS, ABC, Bloomberg and MSNBC as well as being published in various security publications.

Chip is a founding partner in our Tampa office, practicing transportation and maritime law, personal injury and wrongful death defense, marine pollution, general liability defense, and insurance law. His practice includes international and domestic litigation and transactions. He is a retired Coast Guard officer, who spent his final years on active duty as a law specialist and trial attorney assigned to the U.S. Department of Justice, Aviation and Admiralty Litigation Section.

Chip represents a wide range of transportation, maritime, and general litigation clients, providing a myriad of services including litigation of maritime and land-based wrongful death and personal injury, maritime lien, bunker, P & I, cargo, and hull and machinery claims. He represents many of the world’s largest insurers and has provided coverage opinions and defense, and litigated declaratory judgment actions on behalf of numerous insurers. He also handles contractual matters (charters, bills of lading, sales, brokerage and finance agreements, concession agreements, franchise and license agreements, vehicle lease and purchase agreements, owner/operator agreements), from drafting to litigation.

His practice includes rendering advice on all marine regulatory matters, including coverage placement, flagging of vessels, classification society compliance, and U.S., flag state, and international (i.e. SOLAS, IMO, and Law of the Sea Conventions) regulatory compliance. In addition, he has provided counsel regarding the establishment of a variety of maritime businesses including cruise line operations, cargo lines, Ocean Transportation Intermediary licensing and compliance (VOCC, NVOCC, and Freight Forwarders), and marine and land-based terminal operations. He renders advice daily on compliance with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Immigration, Federal Maritime Commission, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and other international and domestic
regulatory schemes.

Chip has represented a variety of foreign entities and clients in international business transactions and litigation including clients in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Panama, the Marshall Islands, England, Norway, Venezuela, Ireland, Korea, Costa Rica, Brazil, Honduras, the Philippines, most every island nation in the Caribbean, and Canada.

Education:
J.D., Cum Laude, University of Miami School of Law | M.S., The John Hopkins University | B.A., University of San Francisco