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Harbormasters are the stewards of our harbors – the center of our coastal communities. They manage the overall ecosystem, including moorings and docks, harbor uses and harbor users, and interactions between local, state and federal government. Of all of our public stewards (police, EMT, fire etc.) these men and women receive the least recognition.
Harbormaster Appreciation Day* -- a day to honor our U.S. Harbormasters and the great work they do -- occurs annually on October 8th.
* National Harbormaster Appreciation Day is registered with the National Day Archive.
Charlie Phippen – Bar Harbor, ME
I’m a retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer and I have worked for the Town of Bar Harbor for twenty years as Harbormaster. I feel a Harbormaster is like a […]
Scott Grindy – San Francisco Marina and Small Craft Harbor, CA
Over 35 years of professional experience in the Management of Personnel, Capital Projects, Facilities Management, Capital and Operational Budgets, Public Works, Building & Engineering Design, Parks and Recreation, Building-Campus Operations, […]
Abby Leonard – Rockport, ME
Abbie has the world’s best attitude, works her stern off, has vision and makes what Charles Kurault once called “America’s most perfect small harbor” even more perfect. One example: she […]
Bill Draughon – Aventura, FL
I have been the Marina Director for 37 years. I have always been working on boats or in the marina my whole career. We have a beautiful 80 acre residential […]
Captain Rick Brass – Washington, NC
I am the dockmaster at the Washington Waterfront Docks, a municipal marina on the Pamlico River about 25 SM west of the ICW in North Carolina. Washington is a friendly […]
Capt. Denver Sanner – Gibson Island, MD
I have been the harbormaster at Gibson Island Club & Yacht Squadron for over 35 years. We are located on the Chesapeake Bay North of the Bay Bridge. We are […]
Steve Melo – Padanaram, MA
I’ve served as the Padanaram / Dartmouth Harbormaster since 2004, and also as the Town’s Shellfish Officer since 2012. Prior to this calling, I was a seasonal Assistant Harbormaster for […]
Katie Traub – Wilmette, IL
I am the Harbor Master at the Wilmette Harbor Club located in the Chicago land area. I have been a dinghy driver for 10 years and I have been the […]
Share a Story, Photo, or Video of Your Harbormaster!
We want to hear from you. Let us know about your harbormaster — they deserve the recognition!
Thomas Phillips – Eliot, ME
I have been Deputy Harbormaster since 2014 for the Eliot shoreline and we have 184 moorings. I have known the Piscataqua River since 1975 and am an avid fisherman. Submitted […]
Ryan Rossi – Chilmark/Menemsha, MA
Ryan Rossi is the best harbormaster ever! Just recently appointed as the Harbormaster in Menemsha on Martha’s Vineyard, it’s been Ryan’s dream to be a harbormaster since he was a […]
Edward Finlay – Shark River Municipal Marina, NJ
I have been the Harbor Master here at the Shark River Municipal Marina since 2012. Soon after I took over, Super Storm Sandy showed up and decimated my property. It […]
INTERVIEWS WITH HARBORMASTERS
National Harbormaster Appreciation Day is brought to you annually by US Harbors.
2024 HARBORMASTER DAY SPONSORS
US Harbors is grateful to our Partner Sponsors for supporting this year's Harbormaster Appreciation Day activities.
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