National Harbormaster Appreciation Day | Thank your harbormaster!

Celebrate Your Harbormaster on 10/8/2024.
IDEAS FOR HOW TO CELEBRATE

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Coastal communities around the country celebrate their Harbormasters on Thursday, Oct. 8th!

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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.

WHAT DO HARBORMASTERS DO?

MEET OUR HARBORMASTERS

Dave Crocker, Harbormaster in Waterford, CT. Image by J. Hughes.

David Crocker – Waterford, CT

David Crocker is the Harbormaster for Waterford, CT. He is also Vice President of Crocker’s Marina and Boat Yard, the largest boat yard in the Thames River. Dave’s responsibilities include […]

Aerial view of Norwalk Harbor in Connecticut. Submitted by B. Lavallo

Bruce Lovallo – Norwalk, CT

I started as Norwalk’s Deputy Harbormaster 2018, and was appointed Harbormaster in 2021. My responsibilities include overseeing moorings and various projects impacting the harbor. I retired after 24yr career in […]

Travas Taylor – Lexington, MI

I’ve worked at Lexington State Harbor here in Michigan for three years now, and as harbormaster for two. I love the close-knit community where everyone is very friendly and willing […]

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, […]

John Brosnihan – Kittery & Kittery Point, ME

I’ve been Harbormaster in Kittery since June 2018. Prior to that I was a police officer with the Kittery Police Department for 18 years. I retired as a Patrol Sergeant. […]

Shawn Herbert – Naples, ME

Appointed Harbor Master in January of 2019, I had been Deputy Harbor Master since 2012 and a Marine Patrol Officer since 2010. Naples is a very unique in nature. Similar […]

Thorne Bay Marina at Sunset. Submitted by J. Aaro

Jacob Aaro – Thorne Bay, AK

I just started as Harbormaster this year. I have 2 harbors to maintain with about 170 slips containing, commercial fish boats, pleasure boats, floatplanes and floathouses. Thorne Bay is extremely […]

Charlie Phippen - Harbormaster in Bar Harbor, ME

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 […]

Mark Souza, Harbormaster in Marblehead, MA

Mark Souza – Marblehead, MA

I have been working for the town of Marblehead now since Feb. of 2017. I was the Deputy Harbor master for the Town of Beverly Ma. prior. I also worked […]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pleasure_Pier_in_Galveston,_Texas.jpg

Jacob O’Kelley – Galveston, TX

I am the Senior Harbormaster for the Galveston Wharves (Port of Galveston – Port Authority). I have been in the Operations Department/Harbormaster’s role since June of 2018. Prior to this […]

Steve Melo - Harbormaster in Dartmouth, MA

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 […]

Oliver Curry – Southwest Harbor, ME

I started as Southwest Harbor Harbormaster on August 9th 2021. As a lifelong mariner, I’ve worked in most of the harbors around MDI as a deckhand, aquaculture crew, commercial fisherman, […]