J.J. Plunkett graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1987 with a BS in Applied Science and received masters degrees in Chemical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University in 1995, and National Security and Strategy from the Naval War College in 2005. Highlights of his 24 years of service in the US Coast Guard include serving as a member of the US delegations to the International Maritime Organization & UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, responding to numerous high consequence oil spills as Federal On-scene coordinator including response efforts following Hurricane IKE, and serving as Captain of the Port in Port Arthur, TX. Captain Plunkett retired from the Coast Guard in 2011 and currently serves as Port Agent for the Houston Pilots. In this capacity, he represents one of the largest and busiest pilot associations in the US. JJ is Chair of the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee Waterway Utilization Subcommittee. He resides in Friendswood, TX with his wife Lori, and enjoys hiking, sailing, and time at the beach.