Professional Affiliation

Director, Marine Transportation Systems at Coast Guard Headquarters

Expert Bio

Mike Emerson is the Director for Marine Transportation Systems at Coast Guard Headquarters. He manages a broad portfolio of marine navigation, waterway, and bridge programs, and is also responsible for a wide variety of Polar safety and security initiatives. 

Emerson retired from the Coast Guard in 2014, after 30 years of service. His tours of duty included the Office of Operations Coordination at Department of Homeland Security, Headquarters; Senior Fellow for CNO Strategic Studies Group in Newport, Rhode Island; Chief of Aviation Forces at Coast Guard Headquarters; Commanding Officer of Air Station Clearwater, Florida; and Chief of Drug Interdiction at Headquarters. His operational assignments included four tours in aviation as a C-130 pilot, and two tours at sea. 

Emerson graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Government. He has a Masters Degree in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from American Military University.