Our Crew

Captain
Executive Chef
Expedition Leader
Seattle Staff

Captain

Rob Earle

Captain

Rob has spent the last thirteen years showing guests the natural wonders and cultures of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and Mexico. His first shipboard job was as a steward on a small cruise ship, and from there he worked his way "up the hawsepipe" to Captain. Rob moonlights as a short story writer and also enjoys hiking, cooking and reading.

Rod Dufor

Captain

A native Californian, Captain Rod is not only a licensed Captain, but also an avid surfer, a First Aid instructor and a scuba instructor, specializing in the handicapped. He has operated research vessels, charter boats and tugboats all along the Pacific. He has also worked with Jean-Michael Cousteau and for National Geographic. If that’s not enough, he can whip up a mean omelet as well.

Executive Chef

Craig White

Executive Chef

A graduate of Seattle Community College culinary arts program with an additional year specializing in pastry, Craig’s joy is to prepare fresh seafood and pastry. Prior to joining American Safari Cruises, he spent 12 years in Bristol Bay. He too has worked as a chef and mate on private yachts along the east coast of the US. In his spare time, Craig enjoys collecting antiques and camping.

Expedition Leader

Vanessa Franson

Expedition Leader

Growing up in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains, surrounded by forests and cold marine waters inspired Vanessa's love of the natural world and ease in the outdoors. Working originally as a deckhand on cargo ships in the Caribbean, she realized her degree in Education and passion for people would be better suited to wilderness cruising. She earned her Captain's license and became a mate with American Safari Cruises in 2002. Vanessa has also worked with youth maritime programs, sail training, and film in New York, and in marine research and conservation in Madagascar.

Kevin Martin

Expedition Leader

Kevin, a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), has traveled all over North America's west coast as an Expedition Leader. He likes to get a feeling for an area’s geology, being able to read the landscape like a book, and then study the biology and botany, with an emphasis on history, commerce, economics and sociology as well.

Nitakuwa Barrett

Expedition Leader

A graduate from Loyola University in New Orleans, Nitakuwa holds a degree in Communications and a minor in Biology. Following graduation, she traveled to Hawaii and began her career as a naturalist, and truly fell in love with the ocean. She has worked with students of all ages in Maui, visiting schools to teach about Hawaii’s wildlife, working at the Maui Ocean Center as an educator, assisting marine mammal researchers and working on boats leading whale watches and snorkel tours.

Seattle Staff

Tim Jacox

Seattle Staff

Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing

A 30-year travel industry veteran, Jacox worked for Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West for 20 years. Positions included local summer operations in Fairbanks, Alaska and winters as Director of Sales and Marketing at the headquarters in Seattle, culminating in a 12-year term as vice president of land and marine operations. Prior to joining American Safari Cruises, he was vice president of automotive services for AAA Washington. Jacox was a board member of the Southeast Alaska Tourism Council and legislative chairman of the Passenger Vessel Association. He is a graduate of the University of Montana and served in the US Navy.

Dan Blanchard

Seattle Staff

Principal/CEO

A captain with a master's license since 1981, Blanchard began his marine career as owner/operator of Blanchard Marine, a small shipyard and yacht importer in Everett, Wash. He later was named captain for sightseeing vessels based at Glacier Bay Lodge in Alaska. He worked for Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West for 12 years, beginning as captain in 1987 and soon after was promoted into the position of Director of Marine operations. Blanchard led the acquisition and renovation of 7 passenger vessels during his tenure at Cruise West. He was promoted to acting vice president of operations before leaving the company in 1999 to join American Safari Cruises. He attended Everett Community College.