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Kevin M. Tokarski

Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift

Kevin Tokarski graduated 1984, from the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation and Business Management and holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree in General Administration (Financial Management) from the University of Maryland (1990). He also, holds a MA from the Naval War College, College of Naval Warfare in National Security and Strategic Studies (1993).

He was selected to serve in the Senior Executive Service in 2008, as Associate Administrator with responsibilities for strategic sealift programs that include: government-owned capabilities in the Ready Reserve Force and National Defense Reserve Fleet; cargo and commercial sealift capabilities in the Maritime Security Program and through cargo preference programs; Emergency Preparedness & Response; Ship Disposal, and supporting the Nation’s seven maritime academies and workforce development. He supports civil-military planning for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the Chairman of the Transport Group – Ocean Shipping.

Since joining the Maritime Administration (MARAD) in 1985 in the Division of Ship Management, Mr. Tokarski has held a variety of assignments spanning different aspects of ship operations, from mobilization and sealift, to readiness and security, marine transportation and domestic emergency response. Notable assignments included Liaison Officer to U.S. Transportation Command (1996-1998) during the principal implementation of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement. He was detail to MARAD’s regional office in San Francisco, served as the Project Manager for the RRF Information Technology Modernization Project and Operations Chief overseeing MARAD’s largest and longest deployment of MARAD ships supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM & Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, and in 2005 – 2006 he spearheaded the Agency’s Federal Emergency Management support following Hurricanes KATRINA and RITA with 9 MARAD ships.

Mr. Tokarski was named Deputy Director of Ship Operations 2007.

Notable awards received include Secretary of Transportation’s Award for Meritorious Achievement – Silver Medal, Maritime Administration Bronze Medal, and Maritime Administrator’s Sir Ernest Shackleton Leadership Award. Mr. Tokarski sailed as a deck officer in the U.S.-flag merchant marine and retains his U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Deck Officer license.  He is active with the National Defense Transportation Association and a life member of the Navy League of the United States.

Kevin is married to Captain Beverly Kelley (U.S. Coast Guard retired) and they have one son Morgan.