Ray grew up in Rockport Massachusetts attended the Rockport school system graduating from High School in 1977. Attended Maine Maritime Academy graduating with a BS in Marine Engineering and Unlimited Horsepower 3^rd Assistant Steam and Motor License May 1981. Hired by the United States Navy Military Sealift Command as a 3^rd Assistant Engineer May 23^rd, 1981. Sailed with MSC for 33-1/2 years, 25+ as Chief Engineer on Diesel, Diesel Electric and Gas Turbine Powered UNREP vessels in support of the US and allied Navies around the world. Served as Port Chief Engineer for the Command for two tours, extended at the request of the Command each time. While Port Chief Engineer also assisted the US DOJ-ENR as a subject matter expert on multiple maritime pollution cases. Served as Special Assistant to the Commander Military Sealift Command in 2010. Chairman of the Defense Safety Oversight Council – Electrical Safety Special Interest Initiative from 2008 – 2011. Participated in the design review of the USNS Lewis and Clark Class T-AKE high voltage diesel electric UNREP vessels. Sailed on multiple classes of vessels with MSC, delivered USNS HENRY J. KAISER T-AO 187, USNS PATUXENT T-AO 201 and USNS SACAGAWEA T-AKE 2 as plank owner. Retired 31 December 2014 hired as an engineering instructor at Maritime Institute January 7^th of 2015 and currently Vice President of Operations and still teaching. Married with 5 grown children and the proud father of a veteran of the US Army’s 82^nd Airborne and current Master Police Officer with the Virginia Beach Police Department.