Seacube Containers

Jersey City, NJ, August 4, 2026 – The United Seamen’s Service (USS) proudly announces that the 57th annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards, the most prestigious honor in the American maritime industry, will recognize three extraordinary leaders whose careers have shaped the strength, safety, and future of the U.S.-flag industry: Robert F. Sappio, Chief Executive Officer of SeaCube Containers; Joseph S. Gregorio, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Pacific Companies; and David Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Hanwha Philly Shipyard.

The coveted AOTOS Award, represented by the iconic silver Columbus statuette, will be presented at a formal dinner gala on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. The evening will also include tributes to American seafarers honored for acts of heroism and bravery, reinforcing the core mission of USS: uplifting those who serve at sea.

For more than half a century, the AOTOS Award has recognized individuals whose leadership, integrity, and vision have advanced the U.S. maritime industry while upholding the welfare of the American seafaring workforce. This year’s honorees exemplify that legacy — champions of American shipbuilding, organized labor, and the seafarers who keep global trade moving.

Each year, the AOTOS Award reminds us why this industry is worth celebrating,” said LTG Kenneth R. Wykle, US Army, (Ret.), Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee. “This year’s honorees have each, in their own way, strengthened the foundation of American maritime commerce, whether through building ships, supporting unionized labor who keep our industry moving, or dedicating a career to the seafarers who make it all possible. We are proud to bring the industry together to celebrate their achievements and, in doing so, support USS’s mission to the seafarers who depend on us.”

Robert F. Sappio, Chief Executive Officer, SeaCube Containers

Few careers reflect a lifelong devotion to the American-flag shipping industry and the seafarers who sail it more than that of Robert F. Sappio. Mr. Sappio built the foundation of his career over more than 30 years with American President Lines (APL) during the era in which the company developed its modern containership fleet, holding senior leadership roles across Asia and the United States, including VP of the Eastern Region North America, VP of Greater China, SVP Commercial based in Singapore, and ultimately SVP overseeing all APL commercial and trade management across the Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, and Latin America trades.

That deep, formative commitment to American-flag shipping has remained the throughline of Mr. Sappio’s career ever since, through leadership roles with Rickmers-Linie and Alvarez & Marsal, and today as Chief Executive Officer of SeaCube Containers, one of the world’s leading intermodal equipment lessors. Since joining SeaCube in 2014 and being named CEO in 2017, Mr. Sappio has led the company’s transformation into the global leader in refrigerated container leasing. Under his leadership, SeaCube has also become the largest provider of intermodal equipment to U.S. Transportation Command. In addition, Mr. Sappio serves on the Board of Directors of TOTE Services, supporting the growth and advancement of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Sappio is known for having a voice in Washington, DC, has testified to congress on behalf of the shipping industry, and is a sought-after speaker on maritime matters. Mr. Sappio has distinguished himself as one of the industry’s most passionate advocates for the health and wellbeing of American seafarers. In 2024 he was honored by receiving the Connie award, and in 2025, he was honored by Seafarers International House with its Outstanding Friend of Seafarers Award, recognizing his sustained support and a lifetime of service that extends well beyond the boardroom to the seafarers themselves.

Joseph S. Gregorio, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Pacific Companies

Joseph S. Gregorio has spent nearly 50 years building a career defined by entrepreneurial vision and a commitment to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Co-founding Pacific Crane Maintenance Company (PCMC) in 1990, Mr. Gregorio grew the company into the maritime industry’s largest maintenance and repair service provider, employing more than 1,000 steady ILWU mechanics representing over half of all mechanic labor hours within the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). Today, PCMC is part of The Pacific Companies, a family of companies forged to support PCMC’s customer base and provide solutions to the maritime industry.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gregorio has treated his relationship with the ILWU as foundational to the success of The Pacific Companies and its customers. It is a relationship built on mutual respect, safety, trust, and a shared commitment to operational excellence. Through cultivating strong partnerships with the ILWU and stakeholders throughout the maritime industry, Mr. Gregorio has demonstrated that working together to solve complex challenges creates better outcomes.

Mr. Gregorio’s contributions have earned recognition throughout the maritime industry, including receiving the 2022 Connie Award and the 2024 International Maritime Hall of Fame Award, and a seat on the Board of Directors of the PMA since 2020. He is defined by his deep respect for the men and women on the waterfront, his unwavering support for labor, and his belief that forging strong partnerships throughout the industry is the cornerstone of success.

David Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Hanwha Philly Shipyard

At a moment when the revitalization of American shipbuilding has never been more urgent to our national and economic security, David Kim stands at the forefront of that mission. Appointed CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. (HPSI) in 2024 following Hanwha’s acquisition of Philly Shipyard, Mr. Kim has led the execution of a bold vision to rebuild American shipbuilding capacity and strengthen the U.S.-flag fleet for the decades ahead.

Mr. Kim’s path to leading one of the nation’s most important shipyards reflects more than 30 years of strategic and operational leadership. He joined Hanwha in 2021 as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of Hanwha Energy USA Holdings Corp, later serving as Executive Vice President of Hanwha Defense USA before assuming his current role. Prior to Hanwha, he led EY’s Operational Transaction Services for the US West Region and held executive positions at Hewlett-Packard and LG Electronics, following a career as a partner at McKinsey & Company specializing in large-scale operational transformation.

Under Mr. Kim’s leadership, Hanwha Philly Shipyard has become a symbol of what is possible for the future of American shipbuilding, including investment, capability, and renewed national commitment to the maritime industry. His work reflects the very mission at the heart of the AOTOS Award: ensuring that America builds, crews, and sails its own ships for generations to come.

Proceeds from AOTOS benefit USS’s global network of seafarer support services, which provide aid and facilities to American mariners, allied crews, and U.S. military personnel overseas. David W. Heindel, President of the Seafarers International Union, will serve as Dinner Chairman, with F. Anthony Naccarato of American Maritime Officers Service and Joseph J. Cox of Cox Maritime LLC as National Committee Co-Chairmen. USS is led by President F. Anthony Naccarato and Executive Director Kathleen Hunt.

For event inquiries, tickets, or advertising opportunities in the AOTOS Journal, please contact the USS AOTOS Coordinators Lisa Aurichio or June Chin at aotos@bsya.com or (732) 817-0400. To contact USS directly, call (201) 369-1100.

About United Seamen’s Service

United Seamen’s Service (USS) promotes the welfare of American seafarers and their families, seafarers of all nations, and U.S. military personnel. For more information, visit www.uss-aotos.org.