Capt. Ross is Operations Manager and comes to 3Bs Captains School after 24 years in the US Coast Guard, which he retired from as a Master Chief in 2014. He spent his entire Coast Guard career operating boats from 23’ to 110’ in ports from Boston, Massachusetts to Miami, Fl, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Straits of Juan De Fuca. Following his military career, Ross was the Navy JROTC Instructor at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, MD for two years. However, his love for teaching was outweighed by his love for boating so he left teaching for a chance to work on the water.

Joining the 3Bs team allows Ross to pursue two of his passions, teaching and boating. Ross’ experience and education include:

Officer in Charge of 87’ Coast Guard Patrol Boat in Port Angeles, Washington

Officer in Charge of 65’ Coast Guard Tug in New York Harbor Officer in Charge Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach

NC Officer in Charge Coast Guard Station Ocean City, MD

Deck Watch Officer on a 110’ Coast Guard Patrol boat in Atlantic Beach, NC

Coast Guard small boat Coxswain in Sandy Hook, NJ and Oregon Inlet, NC

100 Ton Captain’s License Certified OUPV to 100 Ton Coast Guard License Instructor

Bridge Resource Management Navigation Rules of the Road Instructor

Bachelor of Science Degree from Excelsior College, NY

Jack Sampson grew up sailing on Lake Erie.  He taught sailing and raced sailboats at several venues regionally and nationally.  After college, he was on active duty in the US Navy and served as officer of the deck on a destroyer that provided naval gunfire support during the Viet Nam war and circumnavigated the world.  Besides sailing he enjoys fishing and has owed several fishing boats and sailboats.  Jack was a volunteer crew for a season on the Kalmar Nyckel, Delaware’s tall ship.  He is a USCG licensed Master captain with sailing and towing endorsements.  He is approved by the USCG to teach OUPV and Master’s Upgrade courses and certified by The American Sailing Association to instruct basic and advanced sailing courses. With over 50 years of experience operating boats up to 50 feet, he teaches sailing, navigation, USCG courses, does charters and yacht deliveries.

Mark Sampson started his career in the boating and fishing industry in 1973 when, as a kid, he took a job working at a marina and tackle shop in Ocean City. Thirteen years later he acquired a US Coast Master’s license, bought a boat, and started his new career as a charter captain and fishing guide which continues to be his primary occupation today. Mark fishes out of his home town of Ocean City Maryland through most of the year and the Florida Keys for three months in the winter and early spring.

Experience and education include:

1986 – Current: US Cost Guard licensed 100-Ton Master w/towing endorsement.

1973 – 1986: Manager, Bahia Marina, Ocean City, Md.

1986 – Current: Owner/operator, Fish Finder Adventures (fishing charters) including 40′ custom sportfishing charter boat (Ocean City, Md) and 17′ Maverick flats skiff outboard (Florida Keys)

1995 – 2005: President, Ocean City Charter Boat Captains Association.

1981 Graduate: Salisbury State University, BS – Business Administration

1981 – 2014: Founder and director, Ocean City Shark Tournament.

1995 – Current: Active member – Outdoor Writers Association of America.

1997 – Current: NMFS Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel member

2000 – 2013: Commissioner, Maryland Sportfishing Advisory Commission

2008 – Author: Modern Sharking, sharks and shark fishing.

Captain Russ has maritime experience as both a USCG Master Mariner and as a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Captain Russ retired from the New Jersey State Police as a station commander in the Marine Bureau, where he was responsible for the marine traffic on the waterways from Trenton, NJ to Cape May, NJ. After retiring as a Lieutenant, Captain Russ worked as a maritime contractor in Iraq under a contract with the State Department. He also gained valuable experience when he worked with members of the US Navy’s Riverine Unit on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. After returning, Captain Russ worked as a commercial captain in Little River, SC and yacht delivery captain. Captain Russ is a vendor for MarineMax and holds a 100 ton Near Coastal Mariners License from the US Coast Guard.