Degree program: M.M.A
Year accepted: 2025
Advisor: TBD
Research:  Maritime Educator, Professional Mariner, Sailor
Background: B.A. History, Franklin Pierce College

Profile:

 Growing up on a small island off the mid-Atlantic coast called Manhattan, Captain Jonathan Kabak comes to the Graduate Program in Marine Affairs after a multi decade career as a merchant mariner, maritime program director, and most recently as a non-profit executive.  Having been introduced to the “watery part of the world” through formative experiences in the Sea Scouts and at the South Street Seaport Museum during his youth in New York, Jonathan’s career has focused extensively on building stronger connections to the maritime domain across diverse audiences ranging from professional mariners to environmental justice communities.  These themes resonate in Jonathan’s academic work where in addition to research on equitable ocean access, he is focused on regulatory issues impacting maritime transportation, most recently developments in autonomous vessel regulations.

He is currently CEO of Maritime Rhode Island, the not-for-profit organization which operates Rhode Island’s Flagship the SSV OLIVER HAZARD PERRY and provides a multifaceted portfolio of programs that work to end “Ocean Blindness” or the disconnect coastal communities have to the ocean through workforce development programs, K-12 STEAM initiatives, and community engagement. 

In addition to his professional and academic work, Jonathan serves on the Ship Operations and Safety (Technical) Committee of Tall Ship America (where he is a former Chair), US Sailing’s Safety at Sea Committee as Chair of the Moderator Working Group, and the Southeastern New England Harbor Safety Committee AMX (autonomous vehicle) sub-committee. Having called Rhode Island home (for the second time) since 2017, he lives in Portsmouth with his wife and two children.  In his free time he enjoys sailing, playing music, cooking, and is a multi-medium visual artist.