Navy SEAL Museum Fort Pierce Staff
VADM Tim Szymanski, USN (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer, Fort Pierce, Florida and San Diego, California »
Master Chief Rick Kaiser, USN (Ret.), Executive Director, Fort Pierce, Florida »
Elaine Ryan, Assistant Executive Director »
Andy Brady, Community Outreach/ Volunteer Coordinator »
Margaret Chase, Retail Manager »
Kayla Gonzalez, Comptroller »
Anderson Hanna, Curator »
Amy Rosenberger, Assistant Retail Manager »
Lauren Schirard, Donor Engagement and Communications »
Yvonne Terwilliger, Executive Assistant/Office Manager »
Frank Thiele, Facilities Manager »
Dan Soderberg, Facilities
Jack Kowalski, General Counsel
VADM Tim Szymanski, USN (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer, Fort Pierce, Florida and San Diego, California
Tim has served in many Navy and Joint Special Operations assignments as a Navy Special Warfare Officer (SEAL) for over 36 years. He most recently served as the Deputy Commander for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) after previously serving as the Commander of Naval Special Warfare (NSW). In both roles he oversaw the manning, equipping and training, and employment of NSW and joint special operations forces.
He has an extensive background in raising, equipping, and training Navy, allied and joint special operations forces and has served operationally in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, and other places of crises. As Deputy Commander USSOCOM and as Commander NSW, he spearheaded force design and development initiatives, led organizational culture reviews and implementation plans, and developed leaders throughout the force.
He led initiatives to improve human performance and protect brain health across special operations. He developed programs to enhance cognitive performance and established polices to monitor and protect brain health improving the welfare and operational readiness of all special operations forces and their families.
He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida and San Diego, California.
Master Chief Rick Kaiser, USN (Ret.), Executive Director, Fort Pierce, Florida
Born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Rick joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. He attended Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) training Class 109 in Coronado, CA. Rick was assigned to SEAL Team TWO in Little Creek, VA in 1980. He served at SEAL Team TWO from 1980 until 1985, specializing in winter warfare, combat diving, and sniping until he was selected for duty at SEAL Team SIX in 1985.
In 1993, Rick received the Silver Star Medal for Valor during the Battle of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down). He served at ST-6 from 1985 through October of 2012. During his time at ST-6, Rick acted as sniper, explosives expert, lead training Chief, sniper team leader, and Deputy Operations Officer.
Rick continues to serve his country and fellow SEALs by helping to educate others about this unique special operations force and further the Frogman heritage as the Executive Director of Navy SEAL Museum Fort Pierce. Rick is married to Barbara Kaiser and has two children, Emily and Eric. Rick and Barbara currently reside in Vero Beach, Florida.
Elaine Ryan, Assistant Executive Director
Elaine serves as the Assistant Executive Director. After a decade as Marketing Director for the Fort Pierce Museum and serving as the National Marketing Director at the forefront of the Navy SEAL Museum San Diego effort, she now provides senior leadership across marketing, communications, and institutional strategy. She oversees brand development, integrated marketing initiatives, media relations, and supports major events and partnerships that advance the Museum’s mission and growth.
Elaine holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego, with advanced studies in photography and journalism. Her work in photography and writing has earned regional and national recognition.
Andy Brady, Community Outreach/ Volunteer Coordinator
Andy “The Legend” Brady has been a resident of Fort Pierce for thirty-nine years. Andy brings with him a strong background in hospitality, tourism, and customer service. While with the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce, Andy built solid relationships within the business community of St. Lucie County.
As an avid surfer, Andy is involved with many civic organizations that volunteer their time to protect the natural resources. The son of a career Army officer, Andy’s father graduated from West Point on June 6th, 1944 and retired in Hampton, Va. 1970.
Margaret Chase, Retail Manager
Margaret is responsible for the purchasing, merchandising, computer operations and managing of the museum gift shop, including the store activities during Muster and other such events. She received a B.A. in Business/Political Science from Keene State College (Univ System of NH) and lived 30 years in New Hampshire before moving to Fort Pierce in 2008.
She owned and managed a business for 13 years and has worked as a market analyst for Brookstone, Inc. and a marketing/merchandiser for Hershey Corp. The daughter of a U.S. State Department, Foreign Service Officer, Margaret was born in Munich Germany and lived in several countries before spending most of her school years in Northern Virginia and the DC area.
Margaret loves to explore the outdoors in any venue, but especially on the beautiful Treasure Coast and New England.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Kayla relocated to Port St. Lucie in 2024. With over a decade of experience in Human Resources and Accounting, Kayla previously managed all HR and accounting functions for 12 locations of a major restaurant chain in Miami. Kayla holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Florida International University and is deeply passionate about her career. A proud pet parent to five dachshunds, Kayla’s care and compassion for others clearly extends beyond humans.
With over a decade of professional experience ranging from Museum Manager, to Head of Archives, Collections and Exhibits, Anderson has seen quite a bit in his 12 years of museum work. Anderson received his B.A. from the University of Central Florida, and his M.A. from Southern New Hampshire University specializing in History. Anderson was also an Adjunct Professor of History at Eastern Florida State College before he found his true calling presenting history for everyone to enjoy and learn from. Anderson resides in Florida with his wife Rebecca.
Amy Rosenberger, Assistant Retail Manager
Amy was born in Sussex County, Delaware. She lived there for 26 years before relocating to Florida in 2022. Amy brings more than eight years of customer service experience to the Museum and Gift Shop. She enjoyed seven years as an Assistant Customer Service Manager at a popular grocery chain and then transitioned to the Front Desk Supervisor at her local library. Amy received an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Delaware Technical Community College. She prides herself on being organized and upbeat.
Amy is always open to good book recommendations, enjoys fishing with her husband, and spending time on the beach. She is very passionate about traveling, has visited almost all 50 states, and visited over 15 National Parks–her favorites Grand Teton and Arches. She and husband Alan have been together since 2014; they were married in 2019.
Lauren Schirard, Donor Engagement and Communications
Born and raised in Vero Beach, Florida, Lauren earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. She went on to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Florida Atlantic University.
Lauren brings a strong background in business and communication, specializing in developing marketing initiatives that enhance brand awareness, drive engagement, and support organizational growth.
A driving force behind the Museum’s marketing and media efforts, Lauren is responsible for furthering the mission and vision of the National Navy SEAL Museum.
A devoted advocate for impactful change, Lauren co-founded a local nonprofit and served as Junior Board President, demonstrating her commitment to philanthropy and leadership. Passionate about nonprofit development and community engagement, Lauren is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Indian River Chapter.
An avid equestrian, Lauren also serves on the Board of Directors for Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast, where she applies her expertise in marketing and media to further the organization’s mission.
Yvonne Terwilliger, Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Born and raised in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York, Yvonne relocated to Fort Pierce in 2021. She came to work at the Museum with over 35 years experience in Business Management. Yvonne has worked in healthcare and, most recently, at a global Fortune 500 company. With a vast amount of experience ranging from Finance, HR, Office Management, and Executive Assistant, Yvonne is well-versed in executive team strategy. She is a devoted supporter of local animal shelters and has assisted with finding homes for several rescue dogs.
Frank Thiele, Facilities Manager
Frank, a native of Hialeah, Florida, began his military journey at just 17 years old, enlisting in the Reserves as a Cargo Specialist. He later transitioned to active duty, retraining as a Mechanic with a focus on recovery operations. Over the course of his 17-year career, Frank served in a diverse array of units—including airborne, infantry, transportation, engineering, and special operations command—building a broad skill set that extended well beyond his primary role. He deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq, where he sustained injuries that ultimately led to his medical retirement. After leaving the military, Frank applied his technical expertise as an HVAC-R journeyman before joining the National Navy SEAL Museum staff in December 2021.