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Hal Hockema, P.E. - Chairman / Owner
- 1997-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 1986-1997: Jensen Maritime Consultants – Vice President of Engineering
- 1984-1986: Marine Power & Equipment – Project Engineer, EIT
- 1980-1984: Campbell Industries – Assistant Project Manager
- 1979-1980: MARCO Seattle – Shipyard Trainee
- 1975-1979: Oregon State University, College of Engineering
Hal’s professional interests as Chairman are in design, quality assurance and as advisor to the Hockema management team. Collaboration with clients and the Hockema team during preliminary and detail design phases are especially interesting, as those phases are where the best performance and aesthetic features are usually applied. Hal’s personal interests include bicycling, skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities.
Julie Hockema - Corporate Secretary-Treasurer / Owner
- 1997-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 1979: BS Early Childhood Education, Oregon State University
John Myers, P.E. - President & Managing Principal / Owner
- 2005-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 1999-2005: Jack Sarin Naval Architects – Naval Architect
- 1993-1999: Rodney E. Lay & Associates – Naval Architect
- 1988-1992: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory – Science Aid
- 1993: BS Ocean Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology
John’s professional interests include the development of new workboat designs and the application of modern design and technological tools for improving vessel efficiency and safety. John also teaches fishing vessel stability courses through the North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners Association. His personal interests include mountain rescue, hiking, kayaking and travelling with family.
Michael Whalen, P.E. - Senior Principal
- 2004-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 1992-2004: Fisker-Andersen & Whalen, Inc. – Principal Naval Architect / President
- 1983-1992: Marine I/O – Owner / Naval Architect
- 1979-1983: Nickum & Spaulding Associates, Inc. – Naval Architect
- 1979: BS Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
Mike enjoys collaborating with clients to produce a well-thought-out design. He likes the challenge of hull form design to improve fuel efficiency and sea kindliness, particularly utilizing CFD analysis. He also enjoys working on vessel arrangements and structural design. Mike’s personal interests include skiing, swimming, trail running, biking and playing music with friends.
Shannon Potter – Business Manager
- 2020-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2000-2020: CenturyLink – Regional Contract Administration Manager
- 1994-2000: Cherry City Electric – Estimator, Contract Manager, Office Administration
Shannon is responsible for overseeing business operations, managing the firm’s financials, and carrying out administrative tasks for the office. She is also Hockema Group’s Human Resources Manager. Shannon’s personal interests include scuba diving, snowmobiling, fishing, camping, and gardening.
Craig Pomeroy, P.E. - Principal Naval Architect
- 2011-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2008-2011: Palmer Johnson Yachts – Senior Naval Architect
- 2006-2008: Seacraft Design – Naval Architect
- 2003/2006: Sole-proprietor – Naval Architectural/ Marine Engineering Services
- 2003-2006: Burger Boat Company – Naval Architect
- 2003: B. Bentgen & Associates – Vice President
- 2001-2003: Palmer Johnson Yachts – Chief Naval Architect
- 1989-2001: Jensen Maritime Consultants – Senior Naval Architect
- 1987-1989: BMT International – Naval Architect
- 1983-1986: Marinette Marine Corporation – Naval Architect
- 1983: BS Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
Craig’s main professional interests are ship resistance and propulsion with a particular emphasis on efficiency and economics, stability, and regulatory issues. Craig’s personal interests include sailing, biking, hiking and other outdoor activities along with history and genealogy research.
Eric Blumhagen, P.E. - Principal Naval Architect
- 2017-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 1997-2017: Jensen Maritime Consultants – Chief Naval Architect / Director of Vessel Engineering
- 1997: BS Civil Engineering University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Eric’s main professional interests are in efficient structural design and stability calculations. His personal interests include hiking and hobby rocketry.
Rick Hunt – Principal Projects Manager
- 2023-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2019-2023: Greenbrier – Gunderson and Greenbrier Marine – Vice President & General Manager
- 2008-2019: Gunderson Marine, Vice President of Marine Project Development; Marine Project Manager
- 2006-2008: Baja Marine Corporation – Assembly Manager; New Process Development Manager
- 1986-2006: United States Coast Guard, Commander (retired); 20-year career Marine Safety Professional
- 1994: M.S., Mechanical Engineering – Naval Postgraduate School
- 1986: B.S., Marine Engineering – US Coast Guard Academy
Rick enjoys the collaboration between owners, designers, and shipyards; specifically, applying lessons learned from his extensive regulatory and shipyard backgrounds. His personal interests are centered around the great outdoors – golf, snowboarding, hunting, fishing, and hiking.
Paul Monical, P.E. - Principal Naval Architect
- 2010-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2001-2010: Fred Wahl Marine Construction – Marine Designer
- 2000-2001: Yacht Design Program, The Landing School
- 1996-1999: Crest Audio – Design Engineer
- 1994-1996: Platinum Island Studios – Chief Technical Engineer
- 1991-1993: Calliope Productions – Technical Engineer
- 1991: BS Electrical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo
Paul’s professional interests include as he put it “most of what Naval Architecture has to offer” but is particularly interested in hull form and structural design and it’s detailing for production. His personal interests include hiking, woodworking and trying to play the banjo.
Ash (Arash) Afkhami, P.E. – Associate II Naval Architect
- 2022-2024: New Fortress Energy – VP of Naval Architecture & Shipbuilding
- 2012-2022: VARD US Marine – Principal Naval Architect & Structural Engineer
- 2010-2012: Guido Perla Associates – Project Naval Architect
- 2006-2010: Kvichak Marine – Naval Architect
- 1997-2004: Amir Kabir University of Technology – Tehran, Iran: BS, Naval Architecture, Shipbuilding and MS, Naval Architecture, Hydrodynamics
Ash is passionate about the development of new vessel designs and concepts, structural optimization, and the application of new design tools & methodologies. In his free time, Ash enjoys hiking, nature & night sky photography, and building blocks and models.
Leland Boltz, P.E. - Senior Naval Architect
- 2018-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2017-2018: Foss Maritime – Naval Architect
- 2012-2017: Jensen Maritime Consultants – Naval Architect
- 2012: BS Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
Lee finds great satisfaction in bridging the understanding gap between owners, operators, regulators, and engineers; and in expanding the public knowledge of engineering through his client interactions. In his spare time Lee is interested in programing and electronics, as well as gaming and exploring the great outdoors.
Roger Dickinson, P.E. – Senior Marine Engineer
- 2021-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2011-2021: Vigor Industrial – Mechanical Technical Lead Engineer
- 2008-2011: Elliot Bay Design Group – Marine Engineer
- 2003-2008: Sause Brothers – Marine Engineer
- 2000: BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria B.C.
Roger’s professional interests include exploring alternative and emerging propulsion technologies, focusing on efficiency and functionality. He also enjoys examining vessel efficiencies from a holistic perspective to achieve the most efficient overall vessel. Roger’s personal interests include travel and sailing, including building his own sailboat.
Lexie Chessin, P.E. – Engineer
- 2023-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2019-2023: Crowley Engineering Services – Naval Architect
- 2014-2019: BS Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan
Lexie’s professional interests include new fuel technologies intended to reduce the impact of the marine industry on our environment and increase the longevity of older vessels in the process. She also enjoys working to maintain the safety of the commercial fishing and towing industries while keeping requirements realistic to the fleet’s unique needs. Lexie’s personal interests include climbing, reading, hiking, and camping.
Luke Kiely – Marine Engineer In Training II
- 2022-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2022: BS Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
Luke’s professional interests include vessel stability and systems design. He also enjoys continuing research in sustainability in the form of both efficient vessels and renewable energy logistics. Luke’s personal interests include hiking, climbing, cooking, and woodworking.
Eric Hoff – Associate Designer II
- 2023-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2011-2023: Delta Marine Industries – Designer & Drafter
- 2008-2011: Adriel Design Inc – Partner, Vice President
- 2006-2008: O.B. Williams Company – Project Engineer & Drafter
- 1999-2006: Delta Marine – Yacht Designer & Drafter
- 1999: The Landing School – Yacht Design Program
- 1995-1998: Schooner Creek Boatworks – Boat Construction
- 1993-1995: Lann Tooling – Boat Construction
- 1992: North Seattle Community College – Associate of Arts Degree
- 1987-1989: Jones & Gooddell: Boat Construction
- 1996: Bates Vocational Technical Institute – Boatbuilding Program
- 1983-1987 – Andreasen Boatworks: Boat Construction
Donovahn Allen – Designer
- 2025-Present: Hockema Group, Inc.
- 2024: BS Mechanical Engineering, Seattle Pacific University
Donovahn’s professional interests include vessel design and engineering, with a focus on efficiency and innovation. In his spare time, he enjoys soccer, gaming, and mountain sports. He also has a passion for refining and improving designs, whether through hands-on building, programming, or creative problem-solving.