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CAPT Emily Tharp
Industrial Manager
US Coast Guard Yard
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Captain Emily Tharp assumed the duties as the Coast Guard Yard Industrial Manager in July 2022. As Yard IM, Captain Tharp is responsible for overseeing operations for the Coast Guard’s sole shipyard and largest industrial facility within the Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to this assignment, Captain Tharp completed graduate studies at The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in Washington D.C. with a focus on the maritime industry. Previously, CAPT Tharp fulfilled the duties as the Executive Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Project Resident Office in Panama City, FL. She facilitated stand up and growth of the unit charged with the technical, engineering, quality assurance, and production oversight for OPC hulls 1 through 3 at the shipbuilder’s facility.
Captain Tharp served as Chief of the Requirements and Future Ship Concepts Branch at the Coast Guard’s Ship Design & Systems Engineering Division where she initiated requirements, studies and design concepts in support of the Polar Security Cutter Acquisition Program and the Waterway Commerce Cutter Acquisition Program.
Previous tours of duty include Program Depot Maintenance Branch Chief for the Surfaces Forces Logistics Center Icebreaker, Buoy and Construction Tender Product Line, leading a geographically dispersed workforce in support to 86 cutter and 29 barge assets from Maine to Guam. From 2003 to 2006, Captain Tharp served at Marine Safety Office New Orleans and Sector New Orleans. She was a marine investigator and inspector and spent her final year as a Sector Duty Officer during the standup of the Sector New Orleans Command Center and during Hurricane Katrina response.
Captain Tharp’s sea duty assignments include Engineer Officer aboard USCGC THETIS and Damage Control Assistant aboard USCGC POLAR STAR.
Captain Tharp, originally from Ohio, is a 2001 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. She also holds Masters of Science degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Industrial Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Captain Tharp’s professional recognition includes the American Society of Naval Engineers Perry Award for outstanding contributions to the Coast Guard Naval Engineering program. Her military decorations include three Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals with operational distinguishing device and one Coast Guard Achievement Medal.
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CDR Joshua DiPietro
Chief, Project Management
US Coast Guard Yard
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CDR Joshua DiPietro serves as the Chief of Project Management. Prior to reporting to Coast Guard Yard he was a fellow in System Design and Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His most recent operational assignment was as the Executive Officer of Coast Guard Cutter NORTHLAND (WMEC), where he was part of a team that won the 2019 Interdiction Committee maritime drug interdiction of the year. His other operational assignments were as the Engineer Officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter MELLON (WHEC 717), where he led his department to win the Rear Admiral Lucas Award for best Engineering Unit Afloat, and as the division officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO (WHEC 724). His most recent staff assignment was to Coast Guard Headquarters, as the Industrial Operations Program Manager where his resource proposals to Congress secured $97 million in additional Coast Guard funding for the maintenance and repair of 245 cutters and 1,760 boats. His first staff assignment was as the Port Engineer for all major cutters in the 1st Coast Guard district, where he won the inaugural Surface Forces Logistics Center Port Engineer of the Year award. He is a 2005 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He holds Master of Science Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Command and Staff diploma for Joint Professional Military Education from the Naval War College in Newport, RI.
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John Bragaw
Production Manager
US Coast Guard Yard
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Mr. John Bragaw is the Yard's Production Manager. Retired with the rank of Captain from the U.S. Coast Guard, Mr. Bragaw served as the Yard’s Industrial Manager from 2010 to 2011. He reported to the SFLC as the SFLC Deputy before his retirement in November 2011. Accepting a civil service position at Coast Guard Headquarters, he served as Deputy Chief, Coast Guard Office of Naval Engineering from 2011 to 2014 before his return to the Yard as Production Manager in June 2014.
Mr. Bragaw graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1987 with a Bachelors Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Upon his commissioning, he reported to the Cutter ALERT as a Student Engineer. Follow on assignments included Port Engineer at the Naval Engineering Support Unit New York, New York; Chief Engineer on the Cutters DEPENDABLE and DAUNTLESS, Galveston, Texas; Executive Officer of the Naval Engineering Support Unit, Miami, Florida; Commanding Officer of the 47’ Motor Life Boat Project Resident Office, New Orleans, Louisiana; High and Medium Endurance Cutter Platform Manager, Engineering Logistics Center, Baltimore, Maryland, and Deputy Chief, Office of Naval Engineering, Coast Guard Headquarters.
While stationed at the Office of Naval Engineering, Mr. Bragaw served detached duty in Baltimore as the Pre-Commission Commanding Officer of the Standard Boat Asset Project Office (PRO), a new command responsible for the transformation of the Coast Guard’s surface fleet to a new logistics model. He was detailed from the APO to stand up the Coast Guard’s first Surface Asset Product Line under the new modernization model. In August 2009, he completed his detail and returned to the Office of Naval Engineering, eventually reporting to the Yard as Industrial Manager in January 2010.
Mr. Bragaw graduated from Great Mills High School in southern Maryland in 1982 and attended one year of college at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, before continuing his education at the Coast Guard Academy. He attained a Master of Science in Engineering Management from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1999.
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Sarah Wickenheiser
Chief Engineer
US Coast Guard Yard
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Sarah Wickenheiser serves as the Yard’s Engineering Division Chief within the Industrial Department. She supervises a staff of 35 across three branches with a portfolio of $7M/year. The Engineering Division specializes in detail design to support major maintenance availabilities, and also completes concept, preliminary, and other detail design efforts.
Prior to becoming the Chief of the Engineering Division, Ms. Wickenheiser managed the Yard’s engineering efforts supporting USCG In-Service Vessel Sustainment projects on USCGC Eagle, 175’ WLM, 225’ WLB, 270’ WMEC, and 418’ WMSL ranging from preliminary to detail design, through to production. As a naval architect in the Hull Branch of the Yard’s Engineering Division, she supported the full breadth of naval architecture activities on projects for all of the Surface Forces Logistics Center Product Lines, in addition to work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Before entering public service, she completed calculations, drawings, and investigations for a variety of commercial and military projects as a naval architect and marine engineer working for a Washington D.C.-based maritime technology consulting firm.
Mrs. Wickenheiser is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Maryland. She was the 2017 Coast Guard Engineer of the Year and recipient of the 2021 American Society of Naval Engineers Frank C. Jones Award in Major Maintenance & Alterations. Mrs. Wickenheiser holds a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute (2008) and a Masters in Engineering Management from Johns Hopkins University (2019).
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James Hoehn
Chief, Planning and Estimating
US Coast Guard Yard
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James Hoehn serves as the Yard’s Chief of Planning & Estimating and Scheduling, Industrial Department. A 24 year civil service employee, Mr. Hoehn began his federal career with the Department of Defense as an Electronics Mechanic. He started his career with the Coast Guard in 1997 as a WG-08 Electronics Worker in Electro Group of the Yard, progressing thru the ranks to WL-12 Work Leader. In 2006, he was promoted to Electronics Ship Superintendent for the Electronics and Ordnance Project Management Branch (EOPMB), overseeing electronic and ordnance projects for the shipyard.
Mr. Hoehn furthered his Coast Guard career in 2008, accepting the position of Electronics Equipment Specialist at the Engineering Logistics Center (ELC). During his tenure at the ELC, Mr. Hoehn served as a Contracting Officers Representative (COR) and Maintenance Analyst, providing Life Cycle Support for Coast Guard Electronic systems. He participated in the modernization of ELC to the Surface Force Logistics Center (SFLC).
Mr. Hoehn continued to enhance his Coast Guard career in 2010 and accepted a Management and Program Analyst position supporting the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4ISR) project Coast Guard Logistics Information Management System (CG-LIMS) within the Acquisition Directorate (CG-9) at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Completing a Coast Guard 360 degree circle in June of 2015, Mr. Hoehn returned to the Coast Guard Yard as the Chief of Planning & Estimating and Scheduling. His duties include but are not limited too, supervising the creation of and ensuring the accuracy for detailed plans, workload analysis, estimates, and scheduling for all Yard plans and projects (over $100M in annual production and 650,000 labor hours).
Mr. Hoehn is an Acquisition Program Manager Level II, Life Cycle Logistics Manager Level II, and Contracting Officers Representative (COR) Level II Department of Homeland Security Certified Acquisition Professional. He’s earned Associates’ Degrees in Electronics Technology and Business Administration and is a veteran of the United States Army and Maryland National Guard.
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LT Tyson Finn
Chief, Military Support Division
US Coast Guard Yard
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LT Tyson Finn enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard (CG) in 2000. After 14 years of enlisted service, he transitioned to the Officer Corps earning his commission in 2014. He has over 22 years of service with most of it in the Response field conducting search and rescues operations and law enforcement. LT Finn holds a Master's in Global Management (MBA) from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, AZ and a Bachelor of Science in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School in Falmouth, MA.
LT Finn currently serves as Chief, Military Support Division at the CG Yard. There he is responsible for all support services, administration, and logistics at the CG’s largest industrial facility, and only shipyard in the service. His department provides services to 2,200 military and civilian personnel across 14 operational & mission support commands.
From 2020-2022, LT Finn served as an International Port Security Liaison Officer at U.S. Coast Guard Actives Far East in Tokyo, Japan. He was responsible for assessing global security standards at international port facilities throughout 44 Indo-Asia-Pacific countries. Previously to arriving in Japan, LT Finn served at CG headquarters from 2017 to 2020 in the Office of Boat Forces, where he was responsible for managing the CG's tactical, pursuit, and deployable special forces boat unit policies.
From 2014 to 2017, LT Finn served at CG Sector Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. As an enforcement officer he managed operations for the region's $20 billion maritime transportation system, while leading a team of nine CG boarding officers tasked with boarding large vessel and bulk carriers entering U.S. ports, ensuring the safety of recreational vessels, and enforcing federal fisheries laws. During 2012 and 2014, LT Finn's last enlisted assignment was on the CG's substance abuse prevention team, where he led education, developed policy, and managed cases for CG personnel.
Prior to 2012, and for the bulk of his early career, LT Finn was an Aviation Electronics Technician and helicopter hoist operator. Serving across four air stations ranging from Alaska to North Carolina on both the MH-60 Jayhawk and the MH-65 Dolphin helicopters, he was involved in challenging rescues and maritime law enforcement operations. This included serving as an Aviation Precision Marksman conducting airborne use of force and counter-terrorism missions. The foundations of his career began while serving at CG Station Two Rivers, WI serving as boat crew, conducting multi-mission operations on the U.S. great lakes.
LT Finn's military awards include the Air Medal, two CG Commendation Medals, three CG Achievement Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, and National Helicopter Association Region 4 SAR case of the year, and the USNI Copernicus Award, in addition to other personal, team, and unit awards.
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Timothy Howard
Financial Officer
US Coast Guard Yard
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Tim Howard has been the Financial Officer of the Coast Guard Yard since Oct 2017. He is responsible for the financial operations of the Yard and the fiscal health of the Yard Fund; a working capital fund with annual revenue of $100 million. As the Department Head for the Yard’s Financial Operations Department, he leads a team of 18 financial and accounting professionals.
Mr. Howard came to the Yard from the Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC) Asset Logistics Division where he was the Budget Section Chief in the Fiscal Operations Branch. In this role, he developed the annual budget for over $400M in Operating Expense funding and over $100M of Acquisition Construction and Improvement funding. This funding supported maintenance activities on the Coast Guards entire surface fleet of 244 ships and 1800 small boats.
Mr. Howard is a retired Coast Guard Reserve Officer having served over 12 years on active duty. Active duty tours included Financial Officer for the SFLC Long Range Enforcer Product Line in Oakland, CA; Executive Officer on Coast Guard Cutter SPAR in Kodiak, AK; Project Officer for First District Waterways Management Branch in Boston, MA, and Operations Officer on the Coast Guard Cutter BRISTOL BAY, a Great Lakes icebreaker stationed in Detroit, MI. Mr. Howard also served in the Marine Corps Reserve as a small arms repairman and an ammunition technician.
Mr. Howard earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the Bob Jones University in 1999 and his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from the American Military University in 2011. He is a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) and Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM).
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CDR John Lisko
Facilities Engineer
US Coast Guard Yard
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Commander John “Johnny” Lisko is currently serving as the Yard Facilities Engineer overseeing construction and maintenance of shore infrastructure and environmental compliance.
Prior to his current assignment, Commander Lisko served as the Construction Section Chief at Civil Engineering Unit Miami, where he managed major depot level construction projects across Coast Guard Districts Seven and Eight, including post hurricane recovery projects.
Previous tours include Depot Program Manager at the Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center, Ocean Engineer at CEU Miami, Waterways Management Assistant Chief at District Seven, and Deck Watch Officer aboard USCGC FORWARD.
Commander Lisko holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Florida International University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Originally from Waynesboro, PA, he and his wife Kerrie have 2 children – Jack and Charlotte.
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Roger Taylor
Quality, Safety & Training Manager
US Coast Guard Yard
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Roger Taylor has served as the Yard's Quality, Safety & Training Manager since 2007. With an extensive background in the maritime industry, Mr. Taylor came to the Yard from the U.S. Maritime Administration where he was a project manager in ship operations and ship disposals. His previous work experience included Environmental, Safety & Health Manager and Ship Superintendent of Production and Operations at the Baltimore Marine Industries and Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Sparrow's Point, Maryland.
Among other marine-related specialties, Mr. Taylor has been employed as a marine surveyor and as a commercial diver. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
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Kristen Soper
Communications Director
US Coast Guard Yard
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Kristen Soper has served as the Yard’s Chief of Public Affairs since December 2018. Ms. Soper has 15 years of federal service that began in the Legislative Branch working for U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski. After six years, she moved to an Executive Branch agency serving within the Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office, first as a Congressional Affairs Liaison, then later as Chief.
Ms. Soper is a native of Michigan where she obtained her B.A. from Central Michigan University. She moved to Maryland in 2001 and currently resides in Baltimore City. She holds a Masters of Social Work (Social Action and Community Organization) from the University of Maryland, School of Social work.
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Adam Cole
Structural Group General Foreman
US Coast Guard Yard
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Adam Cole is General Foreman of the Yard Structural Group. He supervises the Shipfitting, Sheetmetal, Welding, and Boat Joiner Shops consisting of over 100 employees. His group repairs, renovates, and refurbishes Coast Guard vessels. He began his employment at the Yard in 2002 as a WG-1 Sheetmetal Trainee as a part of his high school work release program. Two years later, he transferred shops and entered the Yard Trades Training program as a WG-3 Shipfitter/Welder Helper. Adam completed multiple college courses and continued his on the job training until he graduated from the program in 2008 as a WG-10 Shipfitter/Welder. He continued to progress through his career as a Ships Inspector, Structural Leader, and Structural Supervisor before receiving his current promotion to General Foreman. Adam is a AWS QC1 Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Supervisor.
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Donald Shields
Mechanical Group General Foreman
US Coast Guard Yard
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Donald Shields is General Foreman of the Yard Mechanical Group and supervises the Inside Machine, Outside Machine, Pipe, and Engine Repair Shops. He is responsible for the management of repairs and overhauls of basic to complex inside machining, shafts, CPPs, rudders, and fins (including installation); calibration lab and engraving production; repairs and overhauls of crane and weight handling and other shipboard mechanical equipment; piping installations, repairs/installation of complete shipboard piping and air conditioning systems; CPP hub and engine overhauls, and Dyno testing, both in the shop and on board the vessel.
Mr. Shields has worked at the Yard since 1980, starting as a WG-08 and progressed thru the ranks to Supervisor in 1988, Assistant General Foreman, and to his current position as General Foreman in 2007.
Before his civil service career, Mr. Shields served five years in the United States Navy where he was an E-5, Engineman 2nd class.
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Ron Viands
Electrical Group General Foreman
US Coast Guard Yard
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Ron Viands is General Foreman of the Yard Electrical Group that includes the Electric, Electronics, and Ordnance Shops. He oversees 91 employees who work on the repair and installation of equipment and systems on a variety of Coast Guard vessels that come to the Yard. He is responsible for a busy "road show" schedule accomplishing electrical, electronics, and ordnance installs and repairs, as well as CASREP response, on the Coast Guard fleet world-wide.
Mr. Viands came to the Yard in 1991, starting out as an apprentice and progressing to mechanic, work leader, supervisor in both electronics and electric shops, and to his current position as General Foreman in December 2012.
He is a veteran of the United States Army, specializing in electronic warfare.
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Lamont McCloud
Services Group General Foreman
US Coast Guard Yard
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Lamont McCloud is the General Foreman of the Yard Services Group, consisting of the Central Tool Room, Heavy Equipment Repair, Marine Coatings and Material Handling Shops. He has been employed at the Yard since 2007, serving as Production Supervisor of the Yard Paint Department and Quality Control Supervisor for Marine Coatings within the Yard Quality Assurance Branch.
Mr. McCloud worked multiple years as a contractor specifically working on Coast Guard cutters. He has a diverse background in the maritime industry including experience as a sheet metal mechanic, painter/supervisor, ship superintendent, and project manager. He worked over 18 years for Bethlehem Steel Shipyard at Sparrows Point, concluding his career there as Department Head of the Coatings and Services Branch.
Mr. McCloud was promoted to the Yard Services Group General Foreman in 2018.