Rear Admiral Kevin Cook

Maritime Consultant at IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry

Speaker

Rear Admiral (RADM) Kevin Cook retired in 2015 after a wide-ranging career in the Coast Guard. He is bringing his expertise to the private sector through Cook Maritime Solutions, LLC, a consultancy company established to focus on maritime safety, security, and environmental compliance. In January of 2016, RADM Cook joined International Registries, Inc. and its affiliates (IRI), which provide administrative and technical support to the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Administrators, as a Maritime Consultant.

During his career, RADM Cook continually advanced through escalating levels of responsibilities within the Coast Guard’s national and regional headquarters, and in shipboard and maritime safety assignments culminating with command of the Eighth District, a 26 state region, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. There, he regulated maritime industries and facilitated maritime commerce within the nation’s most intense region for shipping; petrochemical production and offshore exploration and production.

RADM Cook previously served as the Coast Guard’s national Director of Prevention Policy, responsible for many of the international and domestic regulations in support of safety, security, environmental protection, mariner licensing, and waterways management. In an earlier assignment, he served as the Chief of the Hazardous Materials Division where he specialized in mitigating the risks of shipping oils, chemicals, and liquefied gases; including lead for delegations to the International Maritime Organization. In the field, he held a variety of positions including Captain of the Port for the Houston-Galveston area of operations. Additionallly, RADM Cook has six years of shipboard experience onboard three Coast Guard cutters, including command of the cutter Cowslip.

A native of Freehold, New Jersey, he is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering. RADM Cook also earned a Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and is a graduate of the United States Army War College. Additionally, he has been recognized by the National Propeller Club as the Port of Houston Maritime Person of the Year, and by the Seamen’s Church Institute for Career Distinguished Service.

After 12 military moves, RADM Cook and his wife, Kris, have chosen to reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He serves locally as a board member for the Mayor’s Military Economic Development Council. He also serves as a corporate board-level advisor to several privately held maritime companies.