DIGIMARINER XIX AGENDA October 2, 2026 (All times Eastern)

11:00 AM Welcome, DigiMariner XIX
Presenter: Dave Gardy, (KP ’80), CEO Maritime TV

11:05 AM Opening Keynote
(TBD)

11:20 PM  Introduction to SHIPIN’s Fleet Vision: Real-time AI-powered visibility across every vessel to Improve Safety, Reduce Risk, and Protect your Fleet 
Presenter: Greg Ryder, SHIPIN.AI

11:50 AM Weather News: How AI-driven Weather Intelligence and Maritime Decision-Support Solutions Contribute to the Future of Digital Shipping.

Presenter: Chris Rayner, Sales Development Operations Manager | Americas | Weather News

12:20 PM Operational Cybersecurity in Preparation for Careers at Sea
Presenter: Paul Tortora, Former USNA Director of Cybersecurity (Ret.)

12:50 PM Securing Maritime Satellite Communications
Presenter: Dr. Winnifred Warren, Naval War College

1:25 PM: SpecNav Global: Using AI to Search and Navigate Maritime Technical Standards
Presenter: Mark Heward, Founder and COO, (Fmr. Royal Navy.(Ret.) SpecNav.Global

2:15 PM Trauma Care on Merchant Vessels in Response to New Drone Risks
Presenters: Courtney Scott, M.D. (KP ’69) Bruce Thompson, M.D. (KP ’69)

Immediate Trauma Care-(within first 2 hours)
Bruce Thompson, MD, Former ATLS Course Co-Director
Henry Ford hospital, Detroit Michigan

Post  Trauma Care
Courtney Scott MD, Former Joint Service Co-TCCC Course Co-Director, USAF

3:45 PM Closing Remarks
Presenter: Dave Gardy, (KP ’80), CEO Maritime TV, TV Worldwide

A dedicated team of alumni, led by the USMMA Class Of ’69 and originally known as the ‘Group of 69’ and later referred to as the ‘KP Digital Initiative’, has established an opportunity for all alumni and industry thought leaders to positively impact the USMMA and the entire US Merchant Marine community by proactively developing maritime digital and advanced technology education to supplement the existing Kings Point curriculum with state-of-the-art industry content that the midshipmen will need to compete in today’s maritime industry. This is a call-to-action for every Kings Point alumnus and maritime professional who plays a role in the evolving digitalization and advancement of shipping (or who is working within an operating maritime organization which has new technology competencies), to participate in supporting this initiative. The group has been working with the USMMA Academic Dean and faculty to implement this program. To disseminate this content, the group has been teaming with Maritime TV to produce 18 live virtual DIGIMARINER on-line webcasts since early 2020 which are all archived on the channel for later viewing by the USMMA midshipmen, faculty and young industry professionals.

The initial goal is to create an accessible video repository database of educational knowledge regarding the many facets of the digitalization of the shipping for USMMA midshipmen, and eventually all maritime educational institutions and industry professionals.

Please note that sponsorship and presenter positions are still available for the archive of all prior DigiMariner Conferences. Sponsors will be pre-recorded in a video interview for later archiving on the DigiMariner conference webcast site(s) and provided a copy of the video interview for their own unlimited use. For more information on becoming a sponsor or a presenter for the series, please contact us at [email protected] or call (571) 228-2298