Nick Custer is a 2009 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering program. He has served aboard the Coast Guard icebreaker HEALY, conducting scientific research in the Arctic Ocean, and as the Engineer Officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter TAHOMA, conducting law enforcement operations across the western hemisphere. He also served as a detached duty Port Engineer at Base Honolulu providing maintenance support to two Hamilton Class high endurance cutters. He joined the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering faculty in July 2018 and was selected to the Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff in March 2020. He grew up in Plainfield, New Hampshire and currently resides in Ledyard, Connecticut with his wife and two children. He enjoys hockey, sailing, and boat building in his spare time.

Education

• M.S., Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• B.S., Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, High Honors, U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Courses Taught

• Analytical Methods in Engineering
• Dynamics
• Introduction to Computing
• Mechanics of Materials
• Ship Propulsion Design
• Small Craft Design
• Laboratory in Naval Architecture

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Custer, N. & Thein, M-W., Novel Reference Trajectories for Improved Marine Surface Vehicle Path Following. IEEE OCEANS, Singapore, April, 2024.
• Custer, N., & Thein, M-W., Development of MPPlan: An Autonomous Surface Vehicle Model-Based Motion Planning Algorithm. ASNE 2023 Intelligent Ships Symposium, Philadelphia, PA, May, 2023.
• Custer, N., et al., Lubricant-derived ash impact on gasoline particulate filter performance. SAE International Journal of Engines, 9(3), 1604-1614. 2016
• Custer, N. C., Ash impacts on gasoline particulate filter performance and service life. Masters Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June, 2015.
• Bacon, A. D., Colella, K., Custer, N. C., & Peifer, B. C., US Coast Guard Hamilton Class Powering Reduction. SNAME 2009 Maritime Convention, Providence, RI, October, 2009

Honors

• The Brand Award presented by American Society of Naval Engineers, 2015

Professional Memberships

• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers; Associate Member
• American Society of Naval Engineers; Member
• IEEE; Member