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2025 GW Engineering graduation celebration speaker

Christopher J. Wiernicki is Chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Chairman of ABS’ Affiliated Companies. He has over 35 years of extensive commercial, government and international experience in marine and offshore design, operations, infrastructure and safety management, ports and bunkering, digitalization, cybersecurity, and clean energy transition.

Prior to his current role, Wiernicki served as Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies and held senior roles at ABS, including President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Technology Officer and President and COO of ABS Europe Ltd. Prior to joining ABS, Wiernicki was the CEO of Designers & Planners, Inc., a naval architecture firm.

In March 2023, he accepted a position on Singapore’s Maritime International Advisory Panel (IAP). The IAP was established by the Singapore Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to seek global perspectives on key trends that will shape the maritime industry

In 2022, Wiernicki was selected as a member of the Marine Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. In 2021, he was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering for his innovative leadership in the design, engineering and operation of ships and offshore structures. He is a Fellow with the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and serves on numerous university boards and advisory councils.

In 2013, Wiernicki was awarded the Vice Admiral Emory S. “Jerry” Land Medal from the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers for outstanding accomplishment in the marine field. In 2016, he earned the United Seaman’s Service Admiral of the Ocean Seas Award for outstanding contributions to the maritime industry, and he is a member of the International Maritime Hall of Fame Class of 2016.

In October 2023, Wiernicki was selected to receive the first Seatrium Visiting Professorship at the National University of Singapore College of Design and Engineering, and in 2024, Wiernicki was featured at number 68 in the 2024 Lloyds List Top 100 People in Shipping ranking of the leading individuals of influence in shipping.

Wiernicki holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in structural engineering from George Washington University, a master’s degree in ocean engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and completed Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program. Wiernicki also received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Maine Maritime Academy, Webb Institute and SUNY Maritime College, and an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology