OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JEFF SAVAGE
Offshore Systems, Inc
Board Chair
MIKE MOORE
Pacific Maritime Shipping Association
Board Vice Chairman
WALT TAGUE
Marine Crowley Fuels, LLC
Board Member
MIKE INMAN
Windstar Cruises
Board Member
MATT SWEETSIR
Ruby Marine, Inc
Board Member
FRANK VARGAS
American Seafoods Company
Board Member
CHRISTINA BENTZ
NorthStar Energy
Board Member
CHRIS GRAFF
Gallagher Marine Systems, LLC
Board Member
KEVIN O'SHEA
Vitus Energy
Board Member
MANAGEMENT
BUDDY CUSTARD
PRESIDENT & CEO
Buddy Custard is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alaska Chadux Network (ACN). He possess extensive knowledge and expertise working maritime operations from both the public and private sectors, including serving with the U.S. Coast Guard for over 30 years attaining the rank of Captain and as a senior manager for an oil exploration and production company operating in the U.S. Arctic Outer Continental Shelf for over 3 years.
Buddy holds broad knowledge on Arctic and Alaska maritime issues from both the industry’s and government’s perspective, ranging from search and rescue, oil spill prevention and response, offshore oil and gas exploration, law enforcement, fisheries management, domain awareness, and the significant challenges of working and supporting operations in both the Arctic and the waters of Alaska.
He served aboard seven Coast Guard cutters in both the Atlantic and Pacific regions, commanding four of the cutters while accumulating over 12 years of sea duty. Buddy further helped guide the Coast Guard’s efforts during many significant natural disaster relief efforts caused by earthquakes, flooding and hurricanes in saving lives, protecting the environment, and restoring the marine transportation system. Prior to leading ACN, Buddy served as President and CEO of the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network, as well as General Manager of Alaska Chadux Corporation, guiding the consolidation of both organizations into ACN.
Buddy is a graduate of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology with a minor in criminology. He earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and is also a graduate of the Homeland Security Executive Leaders Program, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.
JESSICA WRIGHT
VICE PRESIDENT & BUSINESS MANAGER
Jessica Wright served as the Business Manager of the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network since 2016 prior to assuming this position for the Alaska Chadux Network. A native to Alaska, Jessica was raised on lakes, snow, and the Northern Lights, and has a deep love for the state she plans to call home indefinitely. Jessica brings experience from her time with Shell Exploration Alaska where she enjoyed her career in Emergency Response; traveling North America and gaining experience in large scale exercises, completing comprehensive software and ICS trainings, and partnering with local regulatory agencies and the US Coast Guard for the success of the Shell Alaska Venture.
MATT ODUM
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Matt joined the Alaska Chadux Network team as the Operations Manager in 2020. He possesses extensive oil spill response experience in Alaska and his in depth knowledge of the issues and concerns related to the discharge of oil and/or hazardous substances within Alaska is noteworthy.
Matt possesses over 20 years wealth of oil spill response knowledge and experience, predominately in Alaska. Matt was previously the U.S. Coast Guard Alaska District Response Advisory Team (DRAT) Supervisor. In that leadership role, he oversaw all oil spill responses within the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction, which was is basically every marine oil spill incident in Alaska. Upon retiring from the USCG in 2011, predominately conducting oil spill response as a Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representative, Matt worked for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for a few years as a Scientific Support Coordinator before assuming the USCG DRAT supervisor position.
STEVEN GABELEIN
CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER
Steven was originally the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network’s Planning & Technical Services Coordinator since 2016. He holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Gonzaga University and spent nearly five months of his college career circumnavigating the globe aboard the MV Explorer as a student studying oceanography, global studies, and human effects on coastal systems. Prior to joining the Network, Steven worked for the Marine Exchange of Alaska specializing in vessel tracking, marine safety, and oil spill prevention measures, and served as a deckhand aboard a fishing vessel in Southeast Alaska.
NATHAN HATFIELD
PREPAREDNESS MANAGER
STAFF
JENNY PETERSEN
FINANCE LEAD
VACANT
FINANCE ASSOCIATE
DAN POWELL
RESPONSE LEAD
Dan is a fully qualified spill response technician and responds to pollution incidents across Alaska Chadux Network’s area of operations. Prior to joining the team in 2011, he served over 5 years as a wildland firefighter with the State of Alaska and oil spill responder with PENCO. Dan holds a Bachelor of Forestry from Colorado State University.
CHRIS ELLIS
RESPONSE LEAD
Chris is a fully qualified spill response technician and responds to pollution incidents across Alaska Chadux Network’s area of operations. Prior to joining the team in 2012, he served 7 years as a North Slope and western Alaska oil spill responder and industrial firefighter with Alaska Clean Seas and PENCO based in Deadhorse, Alaska.
JOSIAH SMITH
SPILL RESPONSE TECHNICIAN
Josiah joined the Alaska Chadux Network in early 2020. He has a broad-based background in petroleum operations and oil spill response capabilities. His extensive qualifications include in heavy equipment, class A CDL with X endorsement, Highway Emergency Response Specialist, and a merchant mariner credential from the USCG with a person in charge (tankerman) endorsement.
VACANT
SPILL RESPONSE TECHNICIAN
VACANT
HSE SPECIALIST
THOMAS POTTER
SPILL RESPONSE TECHNICIAN
Thomas joined the Alaska Chadux Network team in early 2019 and has a vast knowledge of mechanical and engineering skills, varying from 11 years as an aircraft mechanic to almost 20 years as a heavy equipment/automotive mechanic. Thomas obtained his 100-ton Masters License from the Coast Guard in 2013 and has spent time commercial fishing in Alaskan waters as well as being a jet boat captain in most of the main river systems throughout south-central Alaska.
CORY NELSON
SPILL RESPONSE TECHNICIAN
Cory is a fully qualified spill response technician and operates and maintains Alaska Chadux Network’s Dutch Harbor office and associated response equipment. Prior to joining the team in 2014, he spent over 10 years in the maritime industry in western Alaska including commercial fishing, shipping logistics, and the port authority. He holds a Bachelors in International Business from George Fox University.
LIZ COLLINS
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Jennifer joined the Alaska Chadux Network team in 2015. She assists with all office administration and bookkeeping functions including both accounts payable and receivable. Prior to joining the team, Jennifer worked as an office assistant in the industrial safety products field.
JAIME SCHLAHT
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Jaime joined the Alaska Chadux Network team in 2013. She further serves as the Vessel of Opportunity (VOO) Coordinator where she assists with the training & administrative management of the VOO program. Prior to joining the team, she was active for over 10 years in the Kodiak commercial fishing industry. Jaime holds an Associates in Applied Science from the University of Alaska Anchorage.