Propeller Club Port of Canaveral – Just another WordPress site

PROPELLER CLUB OF PORT CANAVERAL 2024 MARITIME PERSON OF THE YEAR

Diane Luensmann, Vice President, Government and Strategic Communications for the Canaveral Port Authority, has been named Maritime Person of the Year by the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral for 2024. She has worked at the Port Authority since 2017, bringing her decades of experience in federal government, state government and the private sector. Diane earned a Master’s degree from the U.S. Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies. Her private sector experience includes serving as the first female to be President of a full-service New England Ad agency. Her federal experience includes serving as Communications Director and Deputy Chief of Staff for members of the U.S. House of Representatives. In state government she served as Liaison to the Democratic Governors Association. She also worked as Maritime Policy Director for the American Maritime Congress.

Since joining the Canaveral Port Authority, Diane has used her extensive experience in government relations and policy initiatives, and communications and marketing to promote the mission and interests of Port Canaveral, the world’s second busiest cruise port, at the local, state, and federal government levels. She has been a major force in getting federal and state legislation passed and policy improvements made on a wide range of issues that have impact far beyond just Port Canaveral and the State of Florida. An example is that she was instrumental in getting a federal law passed to create a maritime security zone controlled and enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard for the safe and secure splashdown and recovery of space launch assets when it became apparent after the first manned capsule return mission that there was not adequate authority included in existing law. Diane has been involved in planning and deploying innovations and industry cutting edge achievements such as LNG ship fueling at Port Canaveral and strengthening port partnerships with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She has worked to improve emergency response and port safety for Florida ports with the successful passage of Florida legislation to improve hurricane evacuation procedures and helping the port receive funding for a new fire boat and emergency rescue response equipment. In addition to all her work directly impacting the maritime industry, Diane is a strong advocate for maritime education and has helped bring Maritime Academy cadets to Port Canaveral for training and internship opportunities.

Congratulations to Diane Luensmann, the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral’s Maritime Person of the Year!

UPCOMING EVENTS
KBB TRASH BASH
Join the Propeller Club and Canaveral Port Authority for Trash bash Cleanup day at Freddie Patrick Park, Port Canaveral, Saturday, April 5 at 8 am.
SHRIMPFEAST 2025
ShrimpFeast is back! Friday, April 11 from 6 to 10 pm, Cruise Terminal 5, Port Canaveral.
Register online here: ShrimpFeast 2025

REMEMBERING KURT RONSTROM: A LEGACY OF SERVICE TO THE MARITIME COMMUNITY

The Propeller Club of Port Canaveral mourns the passing of Past President and Charter Member Kurt Ronstrom, who passed away on January 9, just weeks before his 89th birthday. A devoted member of the maritime community, Kurt was also an active member of the Navy League, Cape Canaveral Council.

Born on the island of Gotland, Sweden, Kurt’s maritime journey began at sixteen when he went to sea, eventually becoming a Marine Engineer aboard Swedish cargo vessels. He served in the Swedish Navy for 1½ years before meeting his wife, Norma, in Miami. The couple married in 1959, and shortly afterward, Kurt was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years before becoming a U.S. citizen in 1961.

Kurt’s passion for ship repair led him to establish KMD Ship Repair, Inc. in Miami before relocating to Port Canaveral, where he specialized in servicing Navy vessels and cruise ships. His dedication extended beyond business—he played a key role in founding the Seafarer’s Ministry in both Miami and Port Canaveral, ensuring support for visiting mariners.

A true servant leader, Kurt was widely known for cooking lunches for visiting seafarers at the Canaveral Port Ministry, a tradition he upheld quarterly with support from the Navy League and the Propeller Club. He also led the Port Canaveral Maritime Day commemoration for over 20 years, honoring those who serve at sea.

In 2022, Kurt and Norma were recognized as the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral’s Maritime Persons of the Year, a well-deserved tribute to their lifetime of dedication to seafarers and the maritime industry.

The Ronstrom family is planning a private Celebration of Life. In his honor, the Propeller Club and Navy League will pay tribute to Kurt at this year’s Maritime Day event.

Kurt’s legacy of service, generosity, and dedication will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

MARCH LUNCHEON

Port Commission Chairman RADM Wayne Justice, USCG (Ret) was the guest speaker at the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral’s March Luncheon held at Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill. He gave an update on the results of the 2025 fiscal year 1st quarter from Oct through December 2024 including a record-breaking number of 2 million passengers coming through the port on cruises with 16 home-ported cruise ships this winter season. 838 thousand of those passengers were in December alone. Justice noted that 2026 will see the arrival of the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas in mid-August. He noted that this February marks Carnival Cruise Lines’ 35th Anniversary of operating out of Port Canaveral. Justice reported that cargo shipping through the port remains steady with 234 ship calls and 1.5 million tons handled in the 1st quarter. He stated that space related operations saw 16 boosters and 35 fairings returned in Q1. Justice said that the Port’s Mobile Harbor Cranes are busier than ever with 21 days usage in January. In response to a question about a potential new SR 401 Bridge and SR 528 projects, he said there is no timeline yet from FL DOT on when those projects will be advanced. Justice gave credit to all the hard work of port staff and leadership in handling the increased business and passenger traffic at the port.
FEBRUARY NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR

We had a great turnout for the February Member Appreciation Networking Happy Hour at Rising Tide Tap & Table. Thank you to the event sponsor Insight Group!

PROPELLER CLUB OF PORT CANAVERAL
2024 MEMBER OF THE YEAR
BOB SIELSKI

Bob Sielski is a long-time member of the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral and is currently serving as club Secretary for the sixth year in a row. Bob has had a long and distinguished career as a Naval Architect. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan and his Master of Engineering and Doctor of Science in Structural Engineering from the George Washington University. Some of his career highlights include developing a guide for the design and construction of aluminum marine structure that has become a standard reference for aluminum ship structures, working with the Naval Sea Systems Command, and advising the Office of Naval Research on its Ship Structure Reliability program. He received the Distinguished Service Award in 2011 from the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and was elected a Fellow in 2012. He has worked on and chaired committees with the Marine Board of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Society of Naval Engineers.

Bob has shown his dedication to the mission of the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral by volunteering not only as Club Secretary but also faithfully attending the club’s Keep Brevard Beautiful Clean Up days and serving on the Education Committee. Bob is very passionate about the club’s maritime education efforts and scholarship program. He has served as an evaluator for awarding the club’s scholarships for many years and in recent years he has taken the lead on the scholarship application evaluation team, developing a matrix to assist in the process. He advocates for the continued development of the club’s Scholarship Endowment to provide funding for future scholarships. Bob is also passionate about the club’s support for the Canaveral Port Ministry and is always part of the group of members who attend the Ministry’s annual Gala. In his spare time Bob is an avid marathon runner. He has run a marathon in all 50 states and in London and has run half marathons in Antarctica and on the Great Wall of China! Congratulations to our Member of the Year, Bob Sielski.