Kevin M. Tokarski

Kevin M. Tokarski was selected to serve in the Senior Executive Service in 2008, as the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 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 also supports civil-military planning for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the Chairman of the Transport Group – Ocean Shipping. On May 23, 2021 Kevin was selected to serve as the interim Executive Director of MARAD.

Since joining the MARAD in 1985 in the Division of Ship Management, Mr. Tokarski held a variety of assignments spanning different aspects of ship operations, from mobilization and sealift, to readiness and security, and 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; detail to MARAD’s regional office in San Francisco and served as the Project Manager for the RRF Information Technology Modernization Project; Operations Chief overseeing the largest and longest deployment of the agency’s ships supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM & IRAQI FREEDOM, and the 2005-6 Federal Emergency Management Agency support following Hurricanes KATRINA and RITA with 9 agency ships; Deputy Director of Ship Operations (2007-2008), and senior executive overseeing the CAPE RAY mission to destroy 600 tons of Syria’s chemical weapons agents, and the agency’s response with 3 ships in New York City following Super Storm SANDY.

Notable awards received include the U.S. Department of Transportation’s, Secretary 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.

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

He is married to Captain Beverly Kelley (U.S. Coast Guard retired) and they have a son.