Biography - Joseph DiRenzo

Dr. DiRenzo is a retired Coast Guard officer who has worked in maritime security for over 15 years. A former cutter Commanding Officer, he has worked the past eight years as a federal government civilian employee within the Maritime Security field. Dr. DiRenzo holds the Coast Guard Chair at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA,and is a former adjunct instructor with Marine Corps University. He is on the Board of Advisors of the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)'s Department of Homeland Security, Center of Excellence – Natural Disasters, Coastal Infrastructure and Emergency Management (DIEM) which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center of Excellence Program. He is also the National Co-Chair of Academic Maritime Risk Symposium.

Dr. DiRenzo has authored, or co-authored, over 300 articles in various professional magazines and journals including the Naval War College Review, the Naval Institute's PROCEEDINGS, Marine News, Maritime Reporter and National Defense. He has also contributed to three textbooks including: “Naval Leadership: Voices of Experience”, “ Naval Shiphandler's Guide”, and the Center for CounterTerrorism's “Homeland Security: Protecting America's Targets”.

In his spare time, Dr. DiRenzo enjoys skiing and volunteering with the Maison Fortune Orphanage Foundation, which supports an orphanage in Haiti.

Dr. DiRenzo holds a PhD in Business Administration, Northcentral University, MBA California Coast University, Naval War College, Command and Staff, Marine Corps University, Command and Staff, and BS United States Naval Academy.