James B. Ellis II
Fellow
2013-Present
Retired. Active in the affairs of the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association and
serve on the Board of Directors.
2003-2012
Partner in the law firm of Blank Rome LLP, a 500-attorney, multi-national, multi-city
law firm that primarily represents U.S. and foreign businesses on a wide range of
legal issues. During this period, served for six years on the firm’s executive committee
and distribution committee and served for the past four years as the administrative
partner for the Washington, D.C. office. Primary area of practice is representing
maritime companies in corporate transactions and financings.
1985-2002
Founding Partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm of Dyer Ellis and Joseph. Served
as managing partner for 15 years during which time the firm grew from five attorneys
to 45 attorneys. The firm specialized in representing U.S. and foreign companies,
primarily in the maritime industry. In 2003, the firm merged with Blank Rome LLP.
1982-1984
Partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Kurrus and Dyer PC, a boutique law firm
representing companies in the U.S. and international maritime industry.
1980-1982
Special Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation for maritime policy and representative
of the Department of Transportation on the U.S. delegation to the United Nations
Law of the Sea Conference. In that capacity, was the legal member of the team that
oversaw the transfer and integration of the U.S. Maritime Administration from the
Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation. Recipient of the Secretary
of Transportation’s Silver Medal.
1979-1980
Selected by the Coast Guard to attend the Sloan Fellows Program at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. Graduated with a Master of Science in Management Degree.
Elected permanent class President. Served on the Board of Governors of the Sloan
Fellows Program.
1975-1979
Served as the District Legal Officer for the 17th Coast Guard District in Alaska.
Drafted the regulations governing the vessel traffic system for tankers transporting
oil from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, participated in the implementation and enforcement
of the 200-mile fisheries limit in Alaskan waters, and oversaw the transfer of several
million of acres of property along the coast of Alaska from the Coast Guard to Alaskan
natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Deep selected for the rank
of Commander. Awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal.
1973-1975
Served as staff attorney in the Maritime and International Law Division of the Coast
Guard Chief Counsel. Legal representative on the U.S. IMO delegation to the 1974
Safety of Life at Sea Conference. Awarded Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Deep selected
for rank of Lieutenant Commander.
1970-1973
Attended the National Law Center, George Washington University. Graduated first
in class with a Juris Doctor Degree with highest honors.
1968-1970
Served two tours in Coastal Division Twelve, Republic of Vietnam, including ten
months as Commanding Officer of the USCGC Point Orient, eight months as Division
Executive Officer and four months assigned to the U.S. Navy as head of Coast Guard
advisory team assisting with transfer and integration of Coast Guard assets to the
Vietnamese Navy. Awarded Bronze Star with Combat “V”.
1967-1968
Served as Commanding Officer of the USCGC Cape Morgan in Charleston, South Carolina.
1966-1967
Served as duty officer aboard of the USCGC McCulloch with collateral duties as Communications
Officer and Navigation Officer.
1962-1966
Attended U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Graduated first in class with a Bachelor of Science
Degree with Highest Honors.