Command

Erin Moore, Captain

On April 17, 1986 Ms. Park hired Captain Erin Moore to work aboard the AMERICAN NO.1 as a fish processor.  An American Dream story, Erin worked his way up through the ranks to deck and then to the wheelhouse as First Mate aboard the US INTREPID in 1997 and up to Captain in 2003.  In 2012, he came full circle and was promoted to Captain of the AMERICAN NO.1 - the same ship he started out as a fish processor aboard some 26 years earlier.  Captain Moore now works as Captain on all the vessels in the FFI fleet.

Bob Hezel, Captain

Captain Bob Hezel has been associated with Fishermen's Finest dating back to 1991; and starting in 1997 was the Captain of the US INTREPID, leading the Amendment 80 fleet at-sea and ashore with groundbreaking cooperative research like the Science-Industry Rockfish Research Collaboration in Alaska (SIRRCA). Bob was named a 2013 National Fisherman Highliner Award Recipient and became the Captain of the AMERICA’S FINEST in 2019.

Phil Baker, Captain

Captain Phil Baker started in 1999 with FFI as a fish processor on the US INTREPID, then a deckhand, then a bosun, and then a first mate. Captain Phil became Captain of the AMERICAN NO. 1 in 2010 and then the US INTREPID shortly afterward.

Will Ryan, Captain

Captain Will Ryan was hired in 2003 as a fish processor aboard the US INTREPID and worked his way up to a combi, then a full-time deckhand, night deck boss and bosun. In 2019, he earned his USCG’s First Mate’s license and since 2024 has also served as a Captain of the AMERICAN. NO. 1.

Rick Loan, Captain

Captain Rick Loan started with FFI in 2011 after a long career working in the pollock catcher processor fleet. Rick works on all the vessels in the FFI fleet as both Captain and Mate, most recently as the first mate and relief Captain on the AMERICA’S FINEST.

Darin VanderPol, Captain

Captain Darin VanderPol started with FFI in 2013 after a long career working in the pollock catcher vessel fleet. Captain VanderPol first joined as the Captain of the AMERICAN NO. 1 and since 2019 has served primarily as the Captain and First Mate of the AMERICA’S FINEST.

Donovan Byford, Captain

Captain Donovan Byford has a long history working in numerous longline and trawl fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Donovan joined Fishermen’s Finest in 2024 as the Captain of the AMERICAN NO. 1.

Bret Henry, First Mate

First Mate Bret Henry started out as a fish processor aboard the Bristol Enterprise (now US INTREPID) in 1989. Over the years he worked his way up to Factory Manager, Deckhand, Bosun, and First Mate. Bret joined the US INTREPID under Fishermen’s Finest in 2001 (FFI acquired the vessel in 1997 from Tyson Seafood). Currently, he has spent most of his time as First Mate primarily aboard the US INTREPID but has been aboard the AMERICAN NO. 1 since achieving his USCG First Mate’s License.

Kyle Sandwick, Mate

Mate Kyle Sandwick was recruited in Portland Oregon, right out of High School in 2011. He started out as a fish processor aboard the US Intrepid. In 2013, he made his way to deckhand on the US INTREPID and night bosun in 2018. When AMERICA’S FINEST joined the FFI fleet in 2019, Kyle moved over as a deckhand. He has since earned his USCG First Mate’s license and has been mate on both the AMERICAN NO. 1 and the AMERICA’S FINEST.