Thomas Leebolt

Thomas Leebolt acquired a litany of licenses and certifications over his more than three decades in the maritime industry. While holding primary licensure from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as a Master Upon Oceans and Third Mate Unlimited, he also maintains secondary licensure as Chief Engineer of Unlimited Horsepower vessels and as Unlimited Second Assistant Engineer. His licensure as a Chief Engineer permits Leebolt to work as a Machinist, Electrician, Electronics Specialist, Technician, and Refrigeration Technician. In addition, Thomas Leebolt earned certification with advanced bridge technologies, such as Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), as well as essential maritime procedures, including first aid, advanced fire fighting, CPR, celestial navigation, and ocean diving. With his breadth of knowledge, Thomas Leebolt acted as the Master and Captain of numerous vessels, including sport fishing yachts and research boats. Most recently, Leebolt sailed around the globe on commercial research ships, where he functioned as both Master and Chief Engineer.

Thomas Leebolt learned the fundamentals of the maritime industry through his initial job as a Deckhand on a commercial tuna fishing vessel stationed in San Diego. After obtaining his licensure as a Captain in the mid-1980s, Leebolt began commanding yachts and eventually earned additional licensure as a Chief Engineer in 1997. After functioning in this capacity for nearly a decade, he served on oil field supply vessels as a Chief Engineer for Tidewater Inc., for one year. From 1997 to 2002, Thomas Leebolt acted as the Master and Chief Engineer of numerous research vessels across the globe. Leebolt finished his career at sea as the Chief Engineer of the Acoustic Explorer, a Naval Research vessel. In total, Thomas Leebolt spent more than 10 years at sea and traveled nearly 1 million miles. His journeys took him to all corners of the globe, including the North Sea, South America, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Alaska.