The Coast Guard Foundation is governed by a board of 88 trustees from all parts of the country. The Trustees elect from their members a 30-person Board of Directors to oversee the management of the Foundation. Our Trustees are dedicated individuals who contribute valuable resources to the Foundation.
The Executive Committee
Our board features an executive committee made up of 12 Directors from around the country who serve as an internal governing body with the entire Board of Trustees. To see a complete list of directors and trustees, go here.
Robert J. Flynn, Chairman
Mr. Flynn is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He holds a B.S. degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, class of 1974, after which he served as a Commissioned Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard from 1974-1979. He joined the commercial ship broker, MJLF & Assoc. Inc., in 1979. He is President of the company. Bob is a member of The American Bureau of Shipping, and the Society of Maritime Arbitrators, New York. He has served on the Coast Guard Foundation board since 2002.
Al J. Bernard, Vice Chairman
Al J. Bernard was named the new Vice Chairman of the Foundation's board. He joined the board in 2004. He is a senior vice president of Washington Operations at Manitowoc Company. Al spent more than 28 years in the armed forces, serving in both the United States Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. During his time in the Marine Corps, he served in Vietnam where he earned a Bronze Star with combat "V" for valor and a Purple Heart. Once he left the Marines, Al finished his college degree, and then enlisted in the Coast Guard. Eventually he transitioned into Officer Candidate School. He became a career seagoing officer, serving tours on six cutters, retiring at the rank of Commander. He holds a bachelor's degree from Fordham University and a master's degree from the Naval War College.
Richard J. Grahn, Secretary
Since 2007, Mr. Grahn has held the position of Secretary on the Board of Trustees. He is a managing partner at the Massachusetts law firm Looney & Grossman. His practice involves litigation primarily related to governmental enforcement actions and related claims in both civil and criminal proceedings. He also is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
William E. Jenkins, Treasurer
Will joined the Foundation's board in 2009 and was elected Treasurer in November 2011. Will recently retired as the President of SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., an ExxonMobil affiliate, in Houston, Texas. Will chairs the board of International Marine Transportation Limited, an ExxonMobil affiliate in Great Britain, and he chairs the ExxonMobil Global Marine Center, providing functional guidance to all Exxon affiliates throughout the world on shipping and marine transportation. Will holds master's degrees in finance and safety management from the University of Arizona and a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University. He is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
ADM Thad W. Allen, USCG (Ret.)
Admiral Allen serves on the Coast Guard Foundation's Executive Committee. Admiral Allen retired from the Coast Guard in 2010 after serving as the service's 23rd Commandant, the top-ranking officer. Allen received his bachelor's degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a Master of Public Administration degree from The George Washington University, and a master's degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. He is the recipient of two Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medals, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medals, a Legion of Merit Medal, and three Meritorious Service Medals. Adm. Allen is a Senior Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he provides thought leadership and client engagement for the Justice and Homeland Security business and also contributes to other initiatives in energy, defense and international markets. From 2010 to 2011, he served as a senior fellow at the RAND Corporation.
James Coleman, Jr.
Mr. Coleman has served on the Coast Guard Foundation board since 1997 and in that time has served on many committees. In addition to serving on the executive committee, Mr. Coleman serves on the grants review committee, investment committee, and special events committee. As chairman of the National Coast Guard Museum Association, he is working to bring a national museum to a reality. He is chairman of International Matex Tank Terminals in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Chris Johnsen
Mr. Johnsen has served on the Board of Directors since 1998 and in addition to serving on the Executive Committee, works as chair of the Trustee Committee. He is a managing partner with Jones Walker in Washington, D.C. in the firm's Government Relations Practice Group. Mr. Johnsen holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia, and he earned his juris doctor degree, cum laude, from Tulane University Law School in 1985.
Corrine Kosar
Ms. Kosar joined the board in 2003 and has served as the dinner committee chairperson for our successful Tribute to the Coast Guard in Our Nation's Capital since 2005. Ms. Kosar also serves on the special events committee and the development committee. Ms. Kosar is a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton.
Stein Kruse
Stein Kruse is president and chief executive officer of Holland America Line Inc. and chairman of Seabourn, both units of Carnival Corporation & plc. He joined the Coast Guard Foundation board in 2002. Stein currently serves on the boards of the Coast Guard Foundation, World Trade Center Seattle, and Saltchuk Resources. A native of Oslo, Norway, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. Stein, his wife and two children reside in Bellevue, Wash.
Cheryl "Cherrie" D. Felder
Cheryl "Cherrie" D. Felder was elected to the Board in 2010. A resident of New Orleans, LA, Cherrie is Vice President of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for Channel Shipyard Companies in Channelview, TX and for Turn Services in New Orleans. She is Chairman of the Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee and President of the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association. Cherrie serves on the Executive Committee of Waterways Council, Inc. and on the boards of directors of the National Waterways Foundation, the American Waterways Operators and the Louisiana Association of Waterway Operators and Shipyards. Cherrie has received two Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Awards and was recognized by the Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association as the 1996 Maritime Person of the Year. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.
Clay Maitland
Clay Maitland has served on the Foundation's Board of Trustees for 16 years, through which he has been the organization's top individual donor. He was appointed to the Executive Committee. Clay is known throughout the maritime industry as an advocate for quality shipping through his work as Founding Chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) and Chairman of the Industry Advisory Council for the North American Maritime Ministry Association, amongst other distinctions. Clay is Managing Partner of International Registries, Inc. which administers the Marshall Islands ship registry. In 2010, Clay received the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award at the 30th Annual Salute to the U.S. Coast Guard in New York City.
Ross Roeder
Mr. Roeder is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Coast Guard Foundation. Mr. Roeder served in this role from 2005 to 2011. As a recipient of the Coast Guard's Distinguished Public Service Award, he was recognized for his work to raise the national visibility of the Foundation's mission and establish strategic partnerships to ensure a collaborative approach for future support of the Coast Guard. He has provided the Foundation with a vision for the future that underscores the importance of relationships to synchronize fundraising efforts to benefit all members of the Coast Guard.
