Joe Burgard

Joseph (Joe) Burgard is Managing Director and a Partner at Red and White Fleet, a leading passenger vessel company based in San Francisco, California. A licensed Captain since 1993, Mr. Burgard brings over 35 years of hands-on experience in the passenger vessel industry, with expertise spanning operations, maritime safety, and sustainable vessel technologies.

Throughout his career, Mr. Burgard has been at the forefront of maritime innovation, playing key roles in the development and implementation of alternative fuel and emissions control projects. In 2017, he led the acquisition and integration of a 600-passenger plug-in hybrid electric vessel into the Red and White Fleet. He is also a co-founder of Zero Emission Industries, which launched the first commercial hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessel project in the United States—a milestone in moving the industry toward cleaner propulsion technologies.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Burgard holds a deep-seated reverence for nature and a lifelong passion for the ocean. He celebrates the natural world not only through his work but in his daily life, engaging in ocean activities and championing the protection of marine ecosystems. His commitment to environmental conservation is rooted in a desire to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the planet—for both today’s communities and generations yet to come.

Mr. Burgard continues to be an advocate for sustainable maritime transportation and remains dedicated to advancing a zero-emission future—driven by his belief in the power of innovation, responsibility, and stewardship of the Earth.