The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Penobscot Bay conducts icebreaking operations near Hudson, New York, clearing the vessel Mackenzie Rose from the channel to allow the Golden Cedar to safely transit, Feb. 7, 2026. During the harsh winter months, Coast Guard crews work to keep waterways safe, open, and navigable while providing updated information on ice conditions and navigational aids to enhance maritime safety. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. James Rimmele)
Rear Adm. Francis “Stash” Pelkowski is a veteran, merchant mariner, maritime industry business leader, licensed attorney and a professor at SUNY Maritime College. To say the 58-year-old father has accomplished a lot in life is a gross understatement. However, to hear him describe his early adult years leading to his enlistment in 1980, his present-day success and many achievements were far from predictable.
Thirty-eight years later,...
