Instructors

Captain N. E. Merkle USCG (Ret)

Captain Merkle grew up in Glen Allen, VA where he graduated from Hermitage High School. He attended the US Coast Guard Academy, graduating in 1979 with a BS degree in mathematics. Subsequently, he has earned a Master of Education in Secondary Education for Mathematics (M.Ed.) and a master’s degree in Professional Studies in Safety and Security (M.PS.) from The George Washington University.

Captain Merkle retired from the Coast Guard in 2004, having completed over twenty-five years of active military service. His last assignment was senior operational commander in the Port of New York for maritime safety and homeland security from 2002-04. Sector New York is the largest Coast Guard operational unit with over 600 active duty/civilian personnel, 500 reservists and 2,000 auxiliarists. Under Captain Merkle’s leadership, the unit’s operations center responded to numerous threats and incidents, including the nation’s 1st radiological detection aboard a container ship, an explosive threat (“dirty bomb”) aboard large commercial oceangoing vessel, a suspected SARS threat aboard cruise ship, a gas barge explosion (largest industrial accident within US in over 10 years), and the Staten Island ferry accident with loss of life. He led the water evacuation of nearly one million from Manhattan during the Northeast power outage. Captain Merkle has 17 years of operational experience in maritime Aids to Navigation and waterway analysis and management with 9 years of afloat experience as Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Operations Officer. Areas of operations have included the Hawaiian Islands, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean basin and extensive east coast US ports and waterways.

Upon retiring, he served for eight years as the Director of Port Security and Emergency Operations for the Port of Virginia. In that capacity, he was the senior security professional and Director of the Virginia Port Authority Police Department, which is comprised of sworn police officers, non-sworn personnel, and contract security teams. He was recognized as a leader in port security system integration and common operating picture. In that capacity, he implemented several complex federal security grants with projects in Port Command and Control Center; interoperable communications suite; and enhanced perimeter surveillance and Maritime Domain Awareness.

After leaving the Virginia Port Authority, Captain Merkle was employed with Motorola Solutions Incorporated in their Global Solutions Sales & Services organization for 3 years. He led the Solutions Sales Architect business unit for the Americas, serving as a technical consultant to customers, working with police, fire, and rescue agencies through the US and world, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

Seeking to fulfill a long-term goal of teaching, he took a position at Lake Taylor High School, Norfolk VA in 2016. There he taught mathematics (algebra and geometry) and AP Computer Science. He is married to Dawn, a former maritime attorney and now middle school history teacher. Captain Merkle has two adult daughters, one a child psychologist and the other Lead Innovation Strategist and Nurse Innovator along with two grandchildren. He also is honored to be the stepfather of 4, 3 adults and one 8^th grader in the Navy Sea Cadet program, and step-grandfather of two.

Captain Merkle joined the Gloucester High School Navy Junior ROTC program in September 2020 as the Senior Naval Science Instructor

AOCS (AW) Al Grant USN (Ret)

Senior Chief Grant was born in Toledo Ohio; he attended Elementary and Junior High School before moving to Denver Colorado where he attended High School. During his senior year he relocated to Rigby Idaho and graduated from Rigby High School in 1985.

After a short summer in 1985 Senior Chief Grant enlisted in the Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman to begin his Navy career. Several duty stations and deployments were ahead and fortunately they all were successful tours of duty ranging from USS Coral Sea (CV43) where he served as a weapons assembly technician, his second duty station HELMINERON 12 was a complete change of pace and while stationed aboard HM-12 he was accepted to and graduated from the Hampton Roads Regional Academy of Criminal Justice and served as a state certified police officer for the City of Newport News. Other duty stations included, USS America (CV66) where he served as a weapons assembly supervisor, Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment Norfolk Va serving as an Instructor for the Aviation Ordnance rating, USS Bataan (LHD5) serving as the Combat Ordnance Division Leading Chief Petty Officer, Commander Surface Forces Atlantic serving as Weapons Safety Inspector, Afloat Training Group Atlantic serving as Ordnance Handling Safety Inspection Leading Chief Petty Officer, and completing his career aboard USS Harry S Truman. The Truman was his most rewarding tour of duty as he led over 300 Sailors in their professional growth and development; it also was the duty station from which he retired. During his career he was blessed with a lovely bride Bonnie Lou Taylor, they were married in 1987 and have 2 beautiful daughters Kristi and Katie.

Senior Chief Grant retired from the U.S. Navy after 22 years of service. He currently serves as the Naval Science Instructor at Gloucester High School.

BMC Nathan Williams USCG (Ret)

Chief Williams was born and raised in Detroit and its suburbs in Michigan. He went to elementary school in Detroit before he moved to Madison Heights in the 5^th grade and graduated from Lamphere High School in 1993.

After a short stint at college, Chief Williams enlisted in the Coast Guard in May 1995. Once he graduated from boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey, Chief Williams’ first unit was the Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) in Grand Haven, Michigan where he maintained buoys, lighthouses and other aids to navigation on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. He certified as Crewman on the 46’ BUSL and the 25’ TANB, and became a Boatswain’s Mate Third Class at the ANT. From there Chief moved across the state to Detroit and reported aboard the CG Cutter BRISTOL BAY where he learned ice breaking and continued maintaining aids to navigation. He first certified as a Coxswain on the unit’s small boat, as buoy deck supervisor, and assisted in navigating the cutter through the Great Lakes and its rivers. After his tour in Detroit, Chief’s next unit was at Station Freeport, Texas where he served as the Deck Department Head and Rescue and Survival Petty Officer. This is also where he was first certified as a Boarding Officer and as Coxswain on the 41’ UTB and 47’ MLB. Next, he reported to Training Center Yorktown, VA as a Boatswain’s Mate “A” School instructor. Chief Williams was an instructor for 4 years and taught various navigation topics and served as the supply petty officer. After Yorktown, he was given the opportunity to serve as Executive Petty Officer (XPO) at Station San Juan, Puerto Rico. As XPO he had oversight for the Station, and detachments in St. Thomas and St Croix. Here he added the certifications as Coxswain on the 45’ RB-M the 33’ SPC-LE, and the 25’ RB-S. After successfully completing that tour he headed back to Training Center Yorktown for his last CG tour as the Assistant Rating Knowledge Manager for the Boatswain’s Mate rating. Chief was responsible for writing the End of Course Tests for all three ranks and assisted in transitioning the rate into the new advancement system. He helped write all of the new advancement qualification tasks that all members of the rate are required to accomplish to advance in the rating. He is married to his wife Crystle and has four children: Layla, Owen, Austin, and Nicolas.

Chief Williams retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in September 2015 after completing 20 years of service. He currently serves as a Naval Science Instructor at Gloucester High School.