Instructors

Six Maritime’s Director of Training West boasts an impressive 23-year naval service career, highlighted by a decade with the e United States Navy Riverine Squadron. During his time, they specialized in employing and teaching small boat tactics, honing their expertise in maritime security and tactical operations. His extensive experience and dedication to excellence have made him a vital asset in training the next generation of maritime professionals at Six Maritime.

Shawn Kelley has more than 22 years of experience in the U. S. Navy as a Gunner’s Mate, Surface Warfare Officer, Naval Expeditionary Combat Officer and Amphibious Warfare Instructor.  Much of Shawn’s experience was conducting Counter Narco-Terrorism operations, Vessel and Port Security, Non-Lethal Weapons Development, Operations, and Training Management. Shawn’s post-military experience includes being a Florida School Guardian, Waterborne Security Team Supervisor and Boat Ops Instructor, and Administrator/Instructor for Merchant Mariner licensing.

Jay is the Six Maritime training manager. He has been with Six Maritime for 4 years. He is a retired USN veteran. In his 22 years of service, he was attached to the USS Blue Ridge, USS Cleveland, Naval Station SD Port Ops, IBU 53, MESRON 3, and CRS 3. Jay is a qualified Coxswain for Utility boat, Captains gig, Admirals Barge, 7m RHIB, 11m RHIB, Safeboat Defender class, 25 ft Boston Whaler, 34 ft SeaArk and has several hours piloting the Mark VI patrol boat. As a Riverine, Jay qualified as a Crewman Gunner, Patrol boat engineer, Patol boat Navigator, SCI Coxswain and Patrol Leader. Most of his free time (and money) is spent as a Volleyball and Baseball dad for his three children.

Andrew Figueroa is a Waterborne Training Instructor with Six Maritime Inc. in San Diego, CA. His prior work experience includes 12 years of military service as a combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. During his military service and 5 overseas deployments to Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, and Japan, then-Staff Sergeant Andrew Figueroa became an expert and professional of combat leadership and infantry tactics to include service as an instructor of maritime navigation and amphibious raid operations, leadership in military operations on urbanized terrain, and combat marksmanship for service rifles and pistols. His most recent work experience with Six Maritime Inc. includes developing curriculum and providing training and education courses as an instructor of 11-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), 7-meter RHIBs, Basic Coxswains Skills, Small Boat Crewmen, and Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV). Andrew Figueroa currently maintains his Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) as a Master of 25-ton Vessels upon Inland Waters and Mate upon Near Coastal Waters. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and is a 2nd-year, graduate student of Homeland Security at San Diego State University.

Ismael Brizuela is a retired California State Parole Agent with 25 years of distinguished service. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of collaborating with exceptional partners and team members. He has held roles as both a member and supervisor in an investigative unit, with a focus encompassing violent crime, organized crime, and drug trafficking investigations. Additionally, Ismael has served as an instructor for multiple agencies, sharing knowledge and expertise. Currently, he is the owner of Breeze Consulting Inc. and serves as a small arms instructor in the training department at Six Maritime in San Diego.