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Robert Rovetto

Seeking Opportunities in maritime safety, SAR, and small-boat operations. Currently a boat operator.
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Bio

Healthy Teams | Ethical Leadership | Mutual Self-Growth | Operational Excellence | Mission Success

Helping your team succeed in boating safety and maritime search and rescue (SAR).

Robert brings valuable interdisciplinary, and rare international, experiences to water safety. This includes training and service in approximately 7 water safety organizations (globally) since 2004, and research and development in both national and international standards.

With an ethically-grounded people-first but mission-focused approach where mutual self-growth (a form of continuous improvement) is a non-negotiables, he supports team and org. development by ...

Thinking Beyond Compliance.

Maximize People Potential by making Human Flourishing a proactive core value

As Founder of The Spirit of SAR (SoS), Robert partners with orgs. and individuals to improve sea safety education, operations & research for all. From Training Best-practices and Program Reviews & Dev. to Teamwork reviews and Ethical leadership coaching to Workplace Psychosocial Human Factors to Research, Reports, Innovation and Advocacy.

A colored logo of SoS depicting a marine life ring buoy on a compass and overwhich the company acronym 'SoS' is displayed

Contact to Collaborate, Co-create, & Co-advocate.

Together we can bring positive change to SAR.

SoS Services & Products Page.

SoS Projects

Support a Project Here.

Disciplined maritime safety & operations professional.

Interdisciplinary researcher and project developer.

With demonstrable devotion to this societal service.

Creative, strategic thinker, knowledgeable in global maritime SAR, ethical leadership, workplace psychosocial human factors, standards development, concept and content creation.

Life-long student actively open to: job-placement, professional and person growth, and continuous up-skilling to be recurrently rescue-ready.

Notable Accomplishments

  • Helped develop the US National Water Safety Plan (Roster page).
  • Founder, The Spirit of SAR - Consulting, Research, Ops, Advocacy.
  • Member Ed. Team, Journal of SAR since 2016. Web & Journal Dev. work.
  • Certified U.S. Commercial Mariner (Deck Officer, Master) since 2009.
  • Certified state boat safety instructor (New Jersey).
  • Certified Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal (AU)
  • Knowledgeable with Rescue21 system used by USCG.
  • Averaged 70 hours of unpaid work from 2003-2025 in a water SAR org.
  • Radio watch/operations experience in 3 countries.
  • International maritime SAR training experiences, resulting in unique and intimate knowledge of vessels, PPE, management, organization and training methods of various maritime SAR orgs.
  • Experienced Writer & Content-creator in multiple disciplines: Maritime, Aerospace, Data modeling, Philosophy.
    • Articles, (Inter)national standards, Manuals, Visual study-guides for boats/maritime, etc.

Projects You Can Support (Contact for Partnerships)

Actively Open to Work & Training Opportunities and Career Mentors toward:

  • Temporary, Full-time, Part-Time, Visiting, or Contract roles.
  • Small-boat Operations jobs, 36 ft or less, including RHIBs & PWC
  • Consulting, Giving Talks, or one-on-one tutoring on selected topics (e.g., small-boat seamanship, teamwork & ethical leadership, boat & jetski safety, comparison of global maritime SAR orgs., etc.)
  • Flexible: Open to contribute in many ways within operations, innovation, office, training, education, workplace psychosocial health & safety, content-creation, website work, and team brainstorming.

A Personal Life Goal (by Robert)

Before I pass from this beautiful Earth, I seek a modest paid role in a maritime SAR org., or a (J)RCC, anywhere, globally. I hope God finds the unpaid work to date enough to allow for a compensated opportunity. A picture of the dream life is: living by a coastal rescue boat station (paid or unpaid) while employed nearby, being on-call to take the call, while regularly training, and helping the team. Will you help reach the dream?  Aspire to Inspire.

Others have said it best... 

"to really get to that level where you're getting someone that really wants to push themselves and in to the most challenging conditions-- that has to come from within. [...] I think that drive itself is what makes the surfman what it is today. (Chief Eric Ceallaigh, nmlbs instructor in How Coast Guard Surfmen Train For Massive Waves)"

... I have that drive, 15-years strong now. I just need the opportunity, like-minded ethically-grounded, high-performing teammates, mentors, and business partners, to realize my potential (... and help others do the same! ).

Again: Maximize People Potential by making Human Flourishing a Pro-active Core Value. That is what we should aspire to in SAR.

I've told SAR friends & colleagues: Like a keeper of a lighthouse, an ideal life is where I can live at a rescue boat station... I'd consistently train, study, upskill; maintain the station, the vessels, and gear; help my team; and respond to emergencies. Will you help reach the dream? Do you have the spirit of SAR? 

Let's work together

Safe waters. God bless.why marine sar

"Into the gates of hell we ride. Not for the fame or the glory. But for the one who called out for help." - Unknown

Safe Skies, Seas, Surfaces and Space(s), SAR mates.

God bless.

Education

SUNY
M.A.

Mariners School / Learning System
Merchant Mariner Credential (Deck Officer - Master 100 Ton), 2008

University of Maryland
B.A.

Professional Associations

International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
2026 - Present

International Association for Search and Rescue Coordinators
2025 - 2025

Maritime SAR Council
2024 - Present

Marine Rescue
2023 - Present

U.S. Powerboating/Sailing
2021 - Present

Water Safety USA - National Water Safety Action Plan
2020 - Present

The Maritime Professional Responders and Officers Association (Maritime PRO)
2019 - 2020

U.S. Power Squadrons
2018 - 2019

PWC Rescue operations
2017 - 2020

International Association of Water Rescue Professionals
2016 - 2018

International Maritime Rescue Federation
2016 - Present

US Life-Saving Service Heritage Association
2015 - 2018

Association for Rescue At Sea (AFRAS)
2011 - 2012

U.S. Merchant Marine
2008 - Present

Honors and Awards

Advanced Pilot
United States Power Squadrons
2018

Boat Safety Instructor
NJ State Police Marine Services Bureau
2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Communications
Volunteer USCG
2015

Instructor - Safe Powerboat Handling
U.S. Powerboating
2021, 2022, 2023

Operations - Co-member of the Year (co-winner, shared with Flotilla commander)
Volunteer USCG
2008

Public Affairs Award
Volunteer USCG
2008

Radio Operator
Marine Rescue
2023, 2024, 2025

Rescue boat Crew
Marine Rescue
2023, 2024, 2025

Seamanship
United States Power Squadrons
2018

Sustained Service Award
Volunteer USCG

Interests

  • maritime search and rescue