The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) recently introduced a new interview series in which CEO Alan Thomas sits down with notable industry figures to uncover invaluable insights from some of the brightest minds in the field.
From academics and researchers to AMPP board members — and to the boots-on-the-ground professionals and world-class industry experts shaping the future of the field — the goal is to highlight their achievements; share their perspectives; and bring fresh, thought-provoking discussions to association communities.
For the first installment, Thomas spoke with Dr. Gerald Frankel, who is widely viewed as one of the most respected voices in corrosion science and a true pioneer in sustainability. That conversation can be read here.
For the second, Thomas spoke with Mark Schultz, government marine manager at Sherwin-Williams. This conversation explores the dynamic role of coatings in naval operations, commercial vessels, and the broader modernization of maritime practices.
With over two decades of hands-on collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense, Schultz has been instrumental in advancing marine coatings technologies that meet both high-performance demands and stringent regulatory requirements.
As a certified AMPP Coating Inspector with a Marine Specialty (N-4122), his work spans everything from product development and field trials to driving the adoption of innovative systems across MIL-Spec and commercial markets.
This interview digs into some of the most pressing topics facing the maritime sector today, ranging from the strategic value of next-generation antifoulants and Arctic-ready hull coatings to the importance of inspector training and AMPP’s role in standard development.
Read on for Schultz’s practical insights on how public-private collaboration fuels innovation, along with insight on why balancing mission-readiness with long-term asset protection is essential to safeguarding operations at sea.
Innovations in Maritime Protection
Alan Thomas: You are at the forefront of Sherwin-Williams’ efforts in advancing marine coatings and corrosion technologies. From your unique vantage point, what do you see as the most transformative innovation on the horizon for maritime protection in the next five years?
Mark Schultz: Over the past 24 years of partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Navy, two innovation strategies have remained consistent: Minimizing environmental impact and maximizing performance and longevity.
On the environmental side, the Navy has been proactive—reducing VOCs, promoting heavy metal- and copper-free antifoulants, and more recently, phasing out halogenated/PFAS compounds.
In terms of performance, ballast tank coating longevity has increased from 5-7 years to over 20 years. On vessel exteriors, the shift from silicone alkyd to epoxy polysiloxane has dramatically improved long-term durability.
Looking ahead, the most transformative innovations will be those that merge both environmental and performance benefits. This duality is essential to maintaining a strong maritime presence.
Importance of Naval Collaboration
Thomas: Can you walk through the strategic importance of your recent collaboration with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory? How do public-private partnerships like this shape the future of maritime corrosion control?
Schultz: Collaborating with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) for over two decades has been a tremendous opportunity—for both myself and Sherwin-Williams—to gain invaluable exposure to technologies pioneered by the U.S. Navy that are now considered state-of-the-art.
For example, single-coat, rapid-cure ballast, and fuel tank linings — first developed for our national fleet in the early 2000s — have since made their way into commercial markets like petrochemical and potable water tanks.
Many of those original or derivative coatings are still widely used today, and with good reason. The Navy estimates this innovation alone has resulted in over $2 billion in cost avoidance due to superior performance. Public-private partnerships like this one help to fast-track practical applications while driving both defense and commercial sector advancements.
Commonly Overlooked Challenges
Thomas: What are some of the most overlooked challenges vessels face in maintaining coating integrity in increasingly harsh and unpredictable marine environments?
Schultz: The performance of underwater hull coatings is essential for speed and fuel efficiency. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard are more frequently operating in the Arctic, while also maintaining a strong presence in warm regions like the Arabian and South China Seas. These vastly different environments pose unique challenges, including varying water temperatures, types of marine fouling and physical wear from ice transit.
Impact- and abrasion-resistant primers, paired with high-performing, environmentally responsible antifoulants, are critical. And while often hidden below the waterline and, in turn, overlooked, these coatings are indispensable to fleet readiness and performance.
Commercial and Military Fleets
Thomas: In your experience working across global markets, how does the approach to maritime asset preservation differ from commercial to military fleets, and what can each sector learn from the other?
Schultz: Asset preservation differences between commercial and naval fleets come down to two core requirements of materials and schedule. There are distinct pros and cons for each approach.
- Materials: Naval MIL-Spec coatings are rigorously tested and deliver extremely high performance. However, these specialized systems are less globally available and typically come at a price premium. In contrast, commercial marine coatings—while not always tested to the same level of rigor—are still highly effective and more widely available as part of global offerings, usually at a lower overall cost.
- Schedule: Naval maintenance dockings can span months and require significant technical oversight—an understandable level of scrutiny given the complexity and mission-critical nature of a warship. In contrast, commercial vessels face intense financial pressure when in drydock. They not only incur maintenance costs but also lose revenue while idle, which makes speed and efficiency essential to getting them back in service.
Each sector has something to learn from the other. The Navy can look to commercial practices that improve turnaround times without compromising standards, while commercial operators can benefit from the Navy’s emphasis on long-term performance and durability.
Coatings and Lifecycle Sustainability
Thomas: The conversation around sustainability often focuses on fuels and propulsion—but coatings play a role too. Can you share how innovations in coatings contribute to lifecycle sustainability in the maritime sector?
Schultz: In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that ships over 5,000 gross tons consume approximately 211 million tons of fuel annually—an extraordinary number. As of January 1, 2023, IMO regulations began requiring all ships to calculate their energy efficiency and carbon intensity indicator (a measure of greenhouse gas emissions) and demonstrate improvement over time.
One of the most effective strategies to achieve these targets lies below the waterline through advanced underwater hull coatings. Innovations such as foul-release coatings that incorporate biocidal agents have shown the potential to improve fuel efficiency by 5% or more. These gains translate directly into reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower fuel consumption, and improved compliance with international regulations.
In short, coatings are no longer just a protective measure. They are a key enabler of long-term sustainability in the maritime sector.
Evolving Leadership Style
Thomas: With decades of experience in the protective coatings space, how have you evolved your leadership style to remain effective across shifting economic, environmental, and regulatory climates?
Schultz: First and foremost, become a subject matter expert in your client’s market. Understand today’s needs and anticipate tomorrow’s drivers. Environmental policy is a major force shaping the maritime industry, whether it’s from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Europe’s REACH, or the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
These policies are typically set years in advance, so it’s essential to pay attention, be proactive, alert your clients to what’s coming and work together to develop a joint resolution.
With the U.S. Navy, the requirements are rigorous, and we do it by the book. That approach builds trust and cultivates long-term partnerships. Above all, do what you say you will do. Consistency, follow-through, and deep market understanding are the foundation of effective leadership in this space.
Role of Trade Associations
Thomas: How do you see the role of trade associations like AMPP in advancing innovation and raising industry standards in maritime infrastructure?
Schultz: AMPP plays a vital role in these efforts, especially through its industry leadership and Coatings Inspector Programs (CIP), which are crucial for strengthening and reinforcing our national shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure.
At this pivotal juncture in U.S. shipbuilding, with high-level calls to revitalize the sector as a robust national industry, AMPP’s training capabilities are essential to educating the next class of qualified inspectors.
Equally important is AMPP’s work in developing and maintaining industry standards. A prime example is SSPC-SP 18, the standard for Thorough Spot and Sweep Blast Cleaning, which directly reflects the U.S. Navy’s experience with single-coat, rapid-cure coatings used in ballast tanks. AMPP provided the platform to translate those Navy-driven lessons into broader industrial use—raising the bar for coating performance and application across the sector.
Thomas: With talent shortages affecting skilled trades and technical fields, how is Sherwin-Williams investing in the next generation of maritime and coatings professionals?
Schultz: At Sherwin-Williams, we’re deeply committed to developing our technical and sales teams through a combination of hands-on training and formal certification.
Internally, we recently hosted two “Fleet Weeks,” where our Marine Team applied both MIL-Spec and commercial marine coatings using plural component, standard airless, and conventional equipment. These sessions provide practical experience with real-world application techniques.
Externally, we partner with AMPP to ensure our team members complete CIP 1 and CIP 2 certification programs while also hosting these critical courses at key facilities specifically designed for coatings training. This combination of immersive education and field training helps ensure that the next generation of coatings professionals is both knowledgeable and field-ready.
Can AMPP Play a Greater Role?
Thomas: Finally, how do you see AMPP playing a greater role in advancing materials protection and performance across both the U.S. Navy and the broader maritime sector?
Schultz: As mentioned earlier, AMPP’s work in training and standards development is truly foundational to both military and commercial maritime infrastructure.
Continuing to bridge those two worlds — by transferring knowledge, elevating skills, and promoting best practices — is how AMPP can make the biggest impact going forward.
Future of CEO Interview Series
Schultz’s perspective reinforces a key takeaway from this AMPP Interview Series: Real progress happens at the intersection of innovation and execution.
His emphasis on performance, collaboration, and long-term readiness reflects the kind of leadership that is needed to drive both naval and commercial sectors forward.
For more information, contact: AMPP, www.ampp.org.
