Robert Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies (Amtech), served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. He is a past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, a contributing writer for Marine Money Magazine, Marine News and Maritime Professional Magazine along with other technical publications. He continues as the construction manager & technical advisor for several Private Equity firms, financial institutions building in the United States and South Korea. He is the owner of First Harvest Navigation, a US flag, coastwise registered hybrid catamaran shipping firm supporting New England & New York family farms.
A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Class of 1978, Mr. Kunkel sailed with several U.S flag companies as a licensed engineer, was commissioned as a Navy Officer and continued his career in ship construction at Brooklyn Navy Yard, National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, Hyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea, Chengxi Shipyard and Dalian New Shipyard in Mainland China. Amtech maintains offices in Connecticut, Florida and Ulsan South Korea.