Captain Lee A. Kincaid

President

An honors graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, Captain Kincaid sailed for 15 years in all merchant marine deck officer positions including Master.

He recently served as the Director of Government Affairs for Project ACTA. Project ACTA was a US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation program that promoted the interests of the US Merchant Marine Academy, the US maritime industry, and national security. In this capacity, Lee coordinated legislative issues and educated Congress and regulatory agency representatives to promote the interests of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Flag Merchant Marine, and the nation’s security.

Captain Kincaid served as Deputy Executive Director of the National Cargo Security Council in Annapolis, MD which was an association of transportation/security professionals from the transportation industry.

He also served for 10 years as Assistant Director of the MEBA Engineering School. In this capacity, he was responsible for the daily educational, operations, and administration of the school and associated facility. Captain Kincaid instituted the training for the implementation of the US Tankerman Regulations, chaired the developmental committee for the STCW Basic Safety Training assessments, and coordinated the USCG/MERPAC committee which developed the IMO mariner medical standards and participated in the development of the IMO and USCG training assessment standards.

Captain Kincaid was Port Captain for the Apex Marine Corporation and established Apex’s Beaumont, TX office to oversee maintenance and repair of vessels in the US Maritime Strategic Reserve Fleet. He is a former co-chairman of the MARAD Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP), and served for a number of years as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.

He is the Past President of the Washington D.C. Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation and past treasurer of the US Merchant Marine Academy Government Affairs Committee.

Captain Kincaid is a current member of the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and a past member of the USCG Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC). He served on the Federal Academy Selection Committee for first district of Maryland and on the Smithsonian American History Museum Maritime Advisory Committee. Captain Kincaid is an admissions field representative for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

The Captain, a native of western Pennsylvania, graduated Kings Point in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation and a minor in Maritime Law. Captain Kincaid received awards from the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation in 2002 and 2007 for his professional achievements and his service to Kings Point. He has been published in various maritime industry resources. He is an auditor for the American Council on Education (ACE) for both commercial and military education programs and courses. Captain Kincaid also serves as an expert witness for maritime industry legal services and currently holds a fifth issue unlimited U.S. Coast Guard Masters license.

James E. Caponiti

Executive Director

James E. Caponiti has a wealth of experience from his 37 year career at the Maritime Administration (MARAD), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation. During his tenure at MARAD, Mr. Caponiti was significantly involved with principal maritime programs supporting the U.S. Flag merchant marine, including the development, implementation and management of the Maritime Security Program, various cargo preference programs, the Jones Act; and, he was responsible for executive oversight of the management and operation of the Ready Reserve Force. As Assistant Administrator, he served as principal advisor to the Maritime Administrator and supported the day-to-day management and direct oversight of all agency-administered programs.

Mr. Caponiti has earned numerous medals and honors throughout his career at MARAD, including the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, the highest Civil Service awards for Senior Executives.

At AMC, he will continue to forge strategic partnerships between government, industry and labor to deliver solutions that benefit the U.S. maritime industry.

Dianne Lauer

Executive Assistant

Dianne has been with the AMC since 1999 and resides in Annapolis, Maryland.