Instructors
In keeping with Sperry Marine’s commitment to complete product support, we have a full time staff of professional instructors that provide Operator and Maintenance training for our complete range of products. To complement our certified STCW 95 curriculums, our instructors have also been certified to the highest military and commercial standards.
Sperry Marine instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. Our certified instructors have been approved by the Examination and Approval Branch of the
USCG
National
Maritime
Center and have completed the relevant Train-the-Trainer instructions as specified in the Navigational and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 6-97, Policy on Qualified Instructors and Designated Examiners Who Train or Assess the Competence of Merchant Mariners.In addition to this commercial certification, our instructors are also US Navy Master Training Specialist Certified and have Navy NEC code 9502.
Meet Our Instructors
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Michael Hughes
I started with Sperry Marine one day after graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. I started my career with Sperry Marine by captaining the company's research and development vessel, the R/V SPERRY STAR II, for two years. I then moved shore-side and spent three years as the senior ECDIS / IBS instructor, and another three years as Operator Training Manager. I now manage the Product Support and Training department. I'm very proud of both our instructors and facilities and am confident of our ability to deliver top-notch training to you. |
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Rodney Von Achen
I retired from the US Navy as a Quartermaster Chief Petty Officer in May, 2008 and became an instructor at Sperry Marine in September, 2008. I spent most of my naval career on the west coast on several different platforms utilizing VMS software. My last command was Afloat Training Group San Diego where I was involved in the development of training standards for the Littoral Combat Ships as well as the certification of Navy ships in ECDIS-N. I’m proud to be a part of such an outstanding group of professionals at Sperry, and continue to contribute to the safe navigation to those who sail the high seas. |
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Rich Fiorelli
Richard Fiorelli came to Sperry Corporation in 1981 after a career in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Chief Petty Officer (ICC SW) and instructor in Electronics at Navy schools. Since 1990 he has been at the Sperry Marine Charlottesville facility as a senior Field Engineer and instructor in Gyrocompasses and Inertial Navigation Systems. |
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Pete Oliver
I retired from the US Navy in 2004 after 20 years in the navigation field, and moved on to the Foreign Military Training and Transfer sector of Booz Allen Hamilton, training foreign naval officers and enlisted memebers of the Taiwan Navy on the Kidd class DDG navigation and steering systems. I joined Sperry Marine in 2006 as an ECDIS / IBS instructor, and specialize in classroom and underway training for military and civilian mariners. |
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Dan Honeycutt
I came to Sperry Marine in 1979 straight out of college with a degree in Mathematics and Physics. The first five years I was involved in training only - mainly military products, MK 29, MK 23 and MK 27. Since 1984 I have had a combined Field Engineering and Training position. Doing more field work has provided a much clearer insight into typical problems encountered and installation considerations. I developed the training material for the US Navy WSN-7 program and conducted the initial training. I also developed the NATO SINS and MK 49 (ANZAC, Canada and Spain) training materials and conducted the initial courses. I have set up gyro repair facilities for customers in Spain, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brazil and the Netherlands. I have taught and conducted complete overhauls of several military gyrocompass systems. In addition to gyro and RLGN products, I have hands-on experience with steering, speed logs, RTU, SSA and SCI. |
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Mike Chapple
I came to my current position as Senior Maintenance Instructor following ten years as a Marine Service Engineer with Sperry Marine’s Field Engineering Department. My experience in the field encompassed all of Sperry’s products. A high level of success as a globally dispatched engineer provided me with countless opportunities to conduct repairs on all classes of commercial and military vessels. Prior to commencing work at Sperry Marine in 1995, I served in the United States Navy as an Electronics Technician. In addition to the exposure to at-sea systems this provided, I was also fortunate to have been trained as a navigator, adding a considerable breadth of operator experience to my technical responsibilities. I have worked specifically in the electrical and electronics field for 30 years and specifically on vessel navigation electronics for 20 years. Since 2005, I have been entrusted to use my communications skills to empower our students to be capable and competent service technicians. I continue to support Sperry’s field service as a technical support specialist to military and commercial customers as well as our own technical representatives. Remaining committed to the fast and effective repair of operational vessels has kept me abreast of our current technologies as well as the customer’s needs |
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Brian Goude
I began my current position as maintenance instructor with Sperry Marine in April 2008. This followed fourteen years on U.S. Navy submarines. While in the Navy I served as a nuclear electronics technician. My primary responsibility was the operation of the submarines nuclear reactor. My other duties included the service and repair of reactor safety equipment and neutron measurement electronics. My most recent service was aboard the USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), completing a two year engineering re-fueling overhaul. I am committed to applying the same standards of excellence I learned in the nuclear electronics industry to the marine electronics industry. |
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Bob Hardwood
I joined the Sperry Aeronautical Division in London in 1967 as an Engineer in the Marine department having just graduated from Engineering College. At that time the company produced ring and roller pilots and trolley and contactor gyros, mostly mechanical mechanisms. After many years of riding ships around the world and visiting about every country doing installation and service work, I became the European Training Manager in 1995. Since then I have instructed staff, agents and ship's crews around the globe. |
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