Allen Garfinkle, Executive Director, Board of Pilot Commissioners, San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun Bays
Professional mariner Captain Allen Garfinkle, will highlight the role of maritime pilots in waterborne commerce on San Francisco Bay, including how one becomes a maritime pilot, dangers of the job and common myths about piloting on the Bay. Captain Garfinkle is the Executive Director of the state level authority that trains, licenses and regulates those pilots. Prior to his role at the Pilot Commission, Captain Garfinkle was a deep-sea mariner for 30 years, including 22 years at Matson Navigation Company, where he was master on nine of their ships. Allen holds a Bachelor’s degree from California Maritime Academy and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.