Andrej Klema

Andrej Klema is a native of Ellicott City, Maryland. He is a current senior at Webb Institute, studying Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Between semesters, Mr. Klema works closely with the polar operations and engineering communities of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard as a naval architect and polar navigation consultant.

In his role as an ice navigation consultant, Mr. Klema worked with the U.S. Coast Guard’s International Ice Patrol and the U.S. National Ice Center to modernize maritime navigation products and practices for operations in polar waters. Mr. Klema deployed on U.S. Coast Guard Cutter POLAR STAR in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2023. While assigned to POLAR STAR, Mr. Klema leveraged connections across the DoD, DHS, and intelligence community to modify ice data shapefiles to be integrated with the icebreaker’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). Mr. Klema authored the standard operating procedures for integrated ice navigation that are still used by the Coast Guard and Navy for operations in polar waters. Mr. Klema received the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Medal of Operational Merit for his modernization of icebreaker navigation protocols.

Mr. Klema’s previous assignments include working as a nuclear engineering technician at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, junior naval architect at the U.S. Coast Guard Yard, engineering watchstander on POLAR STAR, buoy deck worker on USCGC JAMES RANKIN, and pipefitter at General Dynamics Electric Boat for the Virginia Class Submarines.

Mr. Klema is one of less than thirty U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Cuttermen and one of even fewer with the Antarctica Service Medal. He has received undergraduate scholarships from the United States Navy League, American Society of Naval Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers, and Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. OC1 Klema received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2023.

Mr. Klema is currently an active-duty Officer Candidate in the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC). He will report to duty at Naval Reactors Headquarters in Washington D.C. following the completion of his studies at Webb and the receipt of his commission as an Ensign.