Instructors
ALL OF OUR INSTRUTORS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE US COAST GUARD TO INSTRUCT OUR COURSES AND ADMINISTER OUR APPROVED EXAMS.
Captain Bryan Smith
P | 866.293.9308
C | 231.642.7656
Biography
As the founder of US Captain's Training, Captain Bryan has a passion for the water and sailing. He is committed to efficiently teaching mariners the safe and legal way to professionally operate commercial vessels.
Captain Bryan has a 100 ton Masters license and captains the schooners Madeline, Appledore IV, the gaff rigged cutter Champion, and the armed sloop Welcome. He is also a certified American Sailing Association instructor/examiner.
His vast experience on the water and in the classroom has been fundamental in making US Captain's Training the ultimate classroom experience.
I would like to thank Captain Bryan and his crew for delivering a world class program that was interesting, educational, challenging and fun.
I would highly recommend US Captains Training (U.S.C.T) to anyone who desires to be the best Captain they can be.
- Captain Edward L. Williams
Biography
Captain Joe is an avid teacher, sailor and fly fisherman. As a USCG certified instructor, he has taught all levels of mariner classes from basic boating and seamanship to the Masters Near Coastal Captain's course.
Joe is also a vessel safety examiner and in addition a certified American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED instructor.
Captain Joe combines his enthusiasm, educational experience, and knowledge of all things nautical to assist each student in achieving success as a professional mariner.
I would like to extend my utmost appreciation to you and especially to Captain Joe for the excellent curriculum that you present. Captain Joe's experience and teaching abilities are excellent, you are lucky to have such a professional on your staff - keep up the good work!
- Captain John Hynes
Biography
Dedicated to educating others, Captain Ken's wealth of experience from boating most of his life and as a retired college physics professor gives USCT students a combination of the knowledge gained from time on the water, and the experience helping people understand difficult concepts.
Ken's expertise is pivotal in improving each edition of our classroom training manual. USCT is fortunate to have such a passionate expert on board.
Captain Ken has a 50 ton Masters license and is a captain of the Schooner, Madeline and the armed sloop, Welcome. He is also a certified American Sailing Association instructor. In addition he is the 2009 commodore of the Grand Traverse Yacht ClubI can honestly say that I couldn't have obtained my captains license without your class. Your teaching was very good, organized, and to the paint, making everything easier to understand and learn. I would definitely advise anyone looking to get their captains license to take your class.
- Captain Virgil D. Tent
Biography
As a youngster Captain Neil spent much of his time on the West Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan keeping his parents sailboat afloat. By the time he was fifteen he had spent more than 100 days on the 85 foot sailing vessel Appledore IV.
After earning his captains license in 2005 he captained a local parasail boat for Traverse Bay Parasail. The following summer Sunshine Charters called and he took a job as captain of a Roberts 44 sailing ketch which gave day tours of Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan.
Neil graduated from Western Michigan University in 2008 with degrees in Biology and Spanish with a minor in chemistry. Shortly after graduating he was elected VP of US Captains Training.
Every day boating on Lake Michigan, I have been able to use the lessons learned in class out on the water. The most useful for me have been the safety lessons.
I appreciated the encouraging, educational and sometime humorous spirit of the class.
Biography
Capt. Rorke has been sailing for over 20 years. After graduating from Chapman School of Seamanship in 1997, he worked for a season as First Mate/Varnish Monkey on a 1956 90' motorsailer.
After jumping ship, Rorke returned to Chicago to obtain a double major in Management and Communications at Loyola University Chicago; all the while, employed in a variety of positions with Chicago Sailing.
As a USCG Master (100GT) Near Coastal and US Sailing Instructor, Rorke has taught over 1,000 people to sail and is eager to assist 1,000 mariners in obtaining the Captain's License.
He and his lovely wife (a former Chicago Sailing instructor) love cruising the Great Lakes and Caribbean with their beautiful daughter (a future Chicago Sailing instructor!).Thank you for your courtesy in providing the instruction to help me achieve the Masters Captain license. I appreciated your patience and thorough knowledge of the subject matter. I would encourage you to use this testimonial regarding the professionalism of the instruction, as an encouragement to anyone considering this journey! I probably would have failed the exam without your instruction and your course material.
- Captain Gary Haskins
Biography
Captain Sue has been boating on Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan for over 20 years. After earning her 50 ton Master Captains License through US Captains Training in the Spring of 2006, she started her own successful chartering business offering; sightseeing tours, and excursions for any event a client can think of. She also conducts private piloting lessons, "Suddenly in Command" classes with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for women and children, "Women and Boating" classes for Skipper Buds Co., yacht deliveries, yacht captaining & management for private individuals.
Sue came on board as an instructor/examiner for US Captains Training in the fall of 2008 and teaches in Western Michigan and Michigan City Indiana. In the spring of 2011 she upgraded her license to 100 ton Master Captain.
I would like to thank you for the opportunity that you had given me to complete the USCG 100 ton master captains licensing. Thank you again for the quality and patience that you exhibit throughout the course you provide.
- Captain Rick Weaver
Biography
Captain Rick Perri enjoys working during the summer seasons on the Potomac River as a relief captain for multiple dinner cruise boats. Working in the 100 Ton industry is always exciting; operating vessels in confined and busy waterways.
In the off season, Captain Rick enjoys teaching a variety of USCG approved courses (OUPV, 100 Ton Master, Towing, and Sailing) and has been fortunate to meet the best boating folks in the MD/VA/DC area.
Captain Rick graduated from SUNY Maritime College and retired from the US Navy in 2006. He was able to use his naval and commercial sea time to upgrade his USCG license to a 1,600 Ton Master (Oceans).
Thank you for your courtesy in providing the instruction to help me achieve the Masters Captain license. I appreciated your patience and thorough knowledge of the subject matter. I would encourage you to use this testimonial regarding the professionalism of the instruction, as an encouragement to anyone considering this journey! I probably would have failed the exam without your instruction and your course material.
- Captain Gary Haskins
Biography
Brett and Julie Tyren are third generation boating enthusiast. They met teaching new owners how to handle their yachts and become comfortable operating in a variety of circumstances. They have a mission to make the waters ways safer and more enjoyable for the general boating community through education.
“Team Tyren” gained experience on the water operating a dinner cruise cutter named the Vista Star, delivering private yachts for a company they own called Designated Masters, teaching woman on the water courses, working in the yacht brokerage industry and getting married in ten foot swells breaking over the bow on Lake Superior.
Thanks again for conducting such a professional US Captain’s Training course. I was overwhelmed with the amount of material you presented and the high quality of your teaching methods.
The training was very intense; you made it fun and interesting for the group. It was obvious that your in-depth knowledge and experience on the subject matter, and your skills in presenting the information, were extremely valuable to the learning process.
- Captain S. Thomas Boyee
