Dave Sheaks joined Maritime Institute in 2022 at the San Diego campus as an Instructor of USCG Deck Department courses; additionally, he provides Facility & Curriculum Support at San Diego.  He brings 31 years of U.S. Merchant Marine experience, which includes service as both an MSC Civil Service Mariner and MSC Contract Mariner, in billets from Able Seaman to Chief Mate.  His experience includes oil, product, and chemical tankers; container ships; oil spill response vessels; oceanographic research vessels; and articulated tug-barge units.  Companies that he sailed for includes Sealift, Inc.; U.S. Shipping Corp.; Military Sealift Command; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Dyn Marine Services; Keystone Shipping Co.; Pacific-Mexican Container Line; Island Charter Service; and Operation Sea Reach.  Dave was a member of American Maritime Officers.  On some days off, Dave stands watches aboard a Spruance-class destroyer in Port Hueneme.

After his first 15 years of sailing, Dave took seven years off to be home with his family and transitioned to teaching.  During this time, he did two years of full-time substitute teaching and five years of teaching jr. high school math and science.  After he returned to shipping, Dave continued to substitute teach during his time off.  Additionally, Dave owned and operated for 34 years Mariner’s Gun Supply, a firearms sales and training business.

Dave Sheaks is a 1983 graduate of California Maritime Academy and took teacher education training at Ventura Community College and California State University Channel Islands.  Dave is a San Diego native and maintains households in San Diego and Camarillo, CA.  Dave is married to Sydni and has two daughters and two step-kids.  In his free time Dave enjoys travel, shooting, fishing, rowing, and hiking