Our Team

CAPTAIN

Jake is the captain of American Promise, Rozalia Project’s sailing research vessel, where he is responsible for the safety, operation, and stewardship of both vessel and crew.

Raised just outside Philadelphia, Jake’s connection to the ocean began during childhood trips to the Jersey Shore. By the time he was a teenager, he had discovered that people could build their lives around the sea—a realization that shaped the course of his future. Drawn by a desire to remain closely connected to the natural world, he pursued a life under sail and has never looked back.

Jake holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-Ton Master’s License and has worked aboard more than 30 vessels as both crew member and captain. Early in his career, he served as a deckhand aboard the historic tall ship Gazela, a 177-foot, three-masted wooden sailing vessel. The demanding experience remains some of the hardest—and most rewarding—work he has ever done.

Over the years, Jake has sailed across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, building a wealth of offshore experience while developing a deep appreciation for the beauty, challenge, and freedom of life at sea. He joined Rozalia Project through a family connection and is now in his fourth season aboard American Promise.

Jake is passionate about ocean conservation and believes everyone benefits from a stronger connection to the sea. Through Rozalia’s educational programs and cleanup expeditions, he hopes visitors gain a deeper appreciation for the ocean, the challenges it faces, and the actions each of us can take to help protect it.

When he’s not captaining American Promise, Jake can usually be found sailing other vessels, wing foiling, diving, hiking, reading, or planning his next adventure. Among the many places he has visited by boat, the Azores remain one of his favorites.

FIRST MATE

Lydia Burnett serves as First Mate aboard American Promise, where she helps lead vessel operations while supporting marine debris research, data collection, and cleanup efforts throughout the Gulf of Maine.

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Lydia’s connection to water began early. Her father was a hydrologist, and an appreciation for rivers, streams, lakes, and watersheds was woven into her childhood. That interest eventually led her to the Maine coast and the College of the Atlantic, where she earned a degree in Human Ecology, an interdisciplinary field focused on the relationships between people and their natural and built environments.

Lydia’s path to Rozalia Project began through scientific research. As a student, she spent three months living on remote Great Duck Island conducting seabird research and studying microplastic ingestion in nesting gull populations. During that work, she connected with Rozalia Project Executive Director Ashley Sullivan, a chance encounter that would shape the next chapter of her career.

Since joining Rozalia in 2024 as a volunteer, Lydia has grown into a leadership role aboard American Promise. After serving as Expedition Leader, she stepped into the position of First Mate, combining her passion for marine science, environmental stewardship, and sailing. She also brings experience from Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, where she explored creative approaches to repurposing marine debris and extending the life cycle of recovered materials.

For Lydia, Rozalia Project represents a rare intersection of science, conservation, community, and adventure. “Every day is different,” she says. “You’re working closely with an incredible team, responding to changing conditions, learning from volunteers, and seeing the direct impact of your work.”

Lydia believes conservation can be both meaningful and hopeful. Through Rozalia’s expeditions, she hopes participants discover that environmental stewardship is not only important, but also deeply rewarding and joyful.

When she’s not aboard American Promise, Lydia enjoys trail running, swimming, cooking, baking, playing banjo, and making art. Among the many places she’s explored, Great Duck Island remains especially meaningful—a place where months spent living and conducting research fostered a lasting connection to Maine’s coastal ecosystems.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHER/CORA BALL CO-INVENTOR

Brooke has been part of the Rozalia Project team for over ten years, first as an intern, next as First Mate of American Promise, then as co-inventor of the Cora Ball and now as a field researcher and data analyst for the CSI for the Ocean mapping and monitoring program.