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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

PROPELLER CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications are open for 2025 Propeller Club Scholarships! Click on the “Scholarships” tab for more info!
MEMBER APPRECIATION NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR
Will be held on Thursday, February 27 at Rising Tide at 5 pm. This is also a welcome to new members and invite prospective new members to join us event! Register here: Feb Happy Hour
MARCH LUNCHEON
Our March Luncheon will be held at Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill at 11:30 am on Wednesday, March 5. Our guest speaker will be Port Commission Chairman RADM Wayne Justice, USCG (Ret.) Register here: March Luncheon
SHRIMPFEAST 2025
ShrimpFeast is back! Friday, April 11 from 6 to 10 pm, Cruise Terminal 5, Port Canaveral.
Register online here: ShrimpFeast 2025
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR JOIN TODAY!
If you have not yet renewed or joined for 2025 we invite you to do so today! You can make payments using a credit card at the online registration links or you can send a check with the membership form to P.O. Box 501, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Go to the “Membership -Renew or Join” tab on this site for the links!

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.

FEBRUARY LUNCHEON

CDR Sarah Brennan, CO of Marine Safety Unit, Port Canaveral, was the guest speaker at the Propeller Club’s February Luncheon. She talked about the missions of the Marine Safety Unit to include vessel inspections and response to pollution and safety incidents. She discussed how Port Canaveral is a unique port for the MSU missions being the second busiest cruise ship port in the world, the center of support vessels for the Space Industry, a leader in LNG fueling of cruise ships, support for range clearing during space launches, and innovation in unmanned vessels. She mentioned how they are bringing in more resources to support all these very busy segments of the industry at the Port. CDR Brennan stated that she has worked in some of the busiest Coast Guard districts and AORs but no port brings together so many industry leading innovations and technology the way Port Canaveral does! Thank you for an outstanding presentation.

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.