AOTOS Award Dinner Gala
PRESENTED BY UNITED SEAMEN’S SERVICE
The Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award
The Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award is the maritime industry’s most prestigious honor, presented annually to recognize those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment in the transportation and maritime industry.
For over five decades, this award has recognized individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of shipping and the welfare of seafarers.
The AOTOS Award Dinner Gala brings together leaders from across the global maritime community to celebrate these achievements in an evening of institutional excellence and tradition.
2026 Admirals
Joseph S. Gregorio
Chairman and Chief executive officer The Pacific Companies
Joseph S. Gregorio has spent nearly 50 years building a career defined by entrepreneurial vision and a commitment to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Co-founding Pacific Crane Maintenance Company (PCMC) in 1990, Mr. Gregorio grew the company into the maritime industry's largest maintenance and repair service provider, employing more than 1,000 steady ILWU mechanics representing over half of all mechanic labor hours within the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). Today, PCMC is part of The Pacific Companies, a family of companies forged to support PCMC’s customer base and provide solutions to the maritime industry.
Throughout his career, Mr. Gregorio has treated his relationship with the ILWU as foundational to the success of The Pacific Companies and its customers. It is a relationship built on mutual respect, safety, trust, and a shared commitment to operational excellence. Through cultivating strong partnerships with the ILWU and stakeholders throughout the maritime industry, Mr. Gregorio has demonstrated that working together to solve complex challenges creates better outcomes.
David Kim
Chief executive officer
Hanwha Philly Shipyard
At a moment when the revitalization of American shipbuilding has never been more urgent to our national and economic security, David Kim stands at the forefront of that mission. Appointed CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. (HPSI) in 2024 following Hanwha's acquisition of Philly Shipyard, Mr. Kim has led the execution of a bold vision to rebuild American shipbuilding capacity and strengthen the U.S.-flag fleet for the decades ahead.
Mr. Kim's path to leading one of the nation's most important shipyards reflects more than 30 years of strategic and operational leadership. He joined Hanwha in 2021 as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of Hanwha Energy USA Holdings Corp, later serving as Executive Vice President of Hanwha Defense USA before assuming his current role. Prior to Hanwha, he led EY's Operational Transaction Services for the US West Region and held executive positions at Hewlett-Packard and LG Electronics, following a career as a partner at McKinsey & Company specializing in large-scale operational transformation.
Robert F. Sappio
Chief executive officer
SeaCube Containers
Few careers reflect a lifelong devotion to the American-flag shipping industry and the seafarers who sail it more than that of Robert F. Sappio. Mr. Sappio built the foundation of his career over more than 30 years with American President Lines (APL) during the era in which the company developed its modern containership fleet, holding senior leadership roles across Asia and the United States, including VP of the Eastern Region North America, VP of Greater China, SVP Commercial based in Singapore, and ultimately SVP overseeing all APL commercial and trade management across the Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, and Latin America trades.
That deep, formative commitment to American-flag shipping has remained the throughline of Mr. Sappio's career ever since, through leadership roles with Rickmers-Linie and Alvarez & Marsal, and today as Chief Executive Officer of SeaCube Containers, one of the world's leading intermodal equipment lessors. Since joining SeaCube in 2014 and being named CEO in 2017, Mr. Sappio has led the company's transformation into the global leader in refrigerated container leasing. Under his leadership, SeaCube has also become the largest provider of intermodal equipment to U.S. Transportation Command. In addition, Mr. Sappio serves on the Board of Directors of TOTE Services, supporting the growth and advancement of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
The AOTOS Admirals
2025
Captain Willie Barrere, Edward F. Hanley,
Vincent J. Marino
2024
Tim Nolan, Augustin “Augie” Tellez, Daniel J. Thorogood
2023
Mark W. Barker, George Pasha, IV, Adam Vokac
2022
Edward W. Aldridge, Harold J. Daggett, Eric P. Ebeling
2021
David W. Heindel, Kathy Metcalf, William E. Woodhour
2020
The U.S. Maritime Community
2019
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, James Given,
Anil Mathur, Joseph Pyne
2018
Salvador “Tony” Bruno, Paul Doell,
Raymond F. Fitzgerald
2017
Andre Grikitis, Captain Thomas Merrell, James Miller
2016
Arthur E. Imperatore, Captain Donald J. Marcus, Christopher J. Wiernicki
2015
Anthony A. Chiarello, Matthew J. Cox, James McKenna
2014
Stephen Cotton, Joseph Cox, Frederick Harris
2013
Philip W.J. Fisher , U.S. Representative Peter King, Emanuel Rouvelas
2012
Niels M. Johnsen, Captain Robert E. Johnston,
The Honorable Mary L. Landrieu
2011
James L. Henry, General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF (Ret.), Robert D. Somerville
2010
Thomas J. Bethel, William A. Pennella
2009
Donald R. Kurz, Ronald D. Widdows
2008
James A Capo, Michael D. Garvey
2007
James S. Anderasick, Morten Arntzen, John F. Reinhart
2006
Paul F. Richardson Colin Veitch
2005
Ron Davis, General John W. Handy, USAF (Ret,), Anthony Scioscia
2004
Raymond P. Ebeling, Robert P. Magee, Jr.
2003
Charles G. Raymond
2002
Captain Timothy A. Brown, Thomas B. Crowley, Jr.
2001
Philip J. Shapiro, Erik F. Johnsen
2000
David J. Tolan, M. Brian Maher
1999
Richard T. duMoulin, U.S. Transportation Command
1998
John P. Clancey, George F. Lowman
1997
Stanley H. Barer, U.S. Senator Ted Stevens
1996
C. Bradley Mulholland,
Vice Admiral Albert Herberger, USN (Ret.)
1995
U.S. Senator Trent Lott, James R. Barker
1994
Louis Parise, Michael Sacco
1993
U.S. Senator John Breaux, Niels W. Johnsen
1992
John Bowers, W. James Amoss, Jr.
1991
Charles I. Hiltzheimer, Captain Warren G. Leback
1990
C.E. DeFries
1989
Bruce Seaton
1988
Thomas B. Crowley, Sr., U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings
1987
Sea-Land Service, Inc., Shannon J. Wall
1986
U.S. Representative, Walter B. Jones
1985
U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift, Command Robert J. Pfeiffer
1984
Malcom P. McLean
1983
U.S. Representative, Mario Biaggi
1982
J. Lane Kirkland
1981
Paul Hall
1980
U.S. Senator, Daniel K. Inouye
1979
Joseph T. Lykes, Jr.
1978
U.S. Representative, John M. Murphy
1977
James A. Farrell
1976
Robert J. Blackwell
1975
U.S. Senator, Warren G. Magnuson
1974
Thomas W. Gleason
1973
U.S. Representative, Leonor K. Sullivan
1972
Andrew E. Gibson
1971
The Honorable, Helen Delich Bentley
1970
Spyros P. Skouras
Special AOTOS Award
Special Recognition
Joseph E. Curran
Edward J. Sette
Captain Robert E. Hart
Rene Lioeanjie
Talmage E. Simpkins
U.S. Military Traffic Management Command
General Norton A. Schwartz, USAF
United States Coast Guard
Anthony Naccarato
Raymond T. McKay
Edward J. Heine, Jr.
Port of Yokohama, Japan
Manuel (Mike) Diaz James
Herman William Steinberg
C. Peter Lambos
H. “Whitey” Disley
Gloria Cataneo Tosi
Richard S. Haynes
Captain George A. Quick
USNS Mercy
M/V Cape Ray
Kenneth R. Wykle LTG, US Army (Ret.)
John L. DeGurse, Jr.
ILWU Local 142
Kenneth R. Wykle, LTG, US Army (Ret.), Chairman
F. Anthony Naccarato, Vice Chairman and National Committee Co-Chairman
Joseph J. Cox, National Committee Co-Chairman
John L. DeGurse, Jr.
James L. Henry
AOTOS Committee
Philip W.J. Fisher
Edward R. Morgan
Adam Vokac
Dinner Chairman
David W. Heindel
United Seamen's Service
F. Anthony Naccarato, President
Kate Hunt, Executive Director
Ronald J. Schwenk, Assistant Director
Philip H. Greene, Jr., RADM, US Navy (Ret.)
Tom Orzechowski