From soldier to shipyard CEO

“I continue to change lives for the better”

It’s a dilemma for many who have spent long years serving in the military: what to do with the rest of your life and how to put your training and experience to good use. For Jamaica’s Colonel Martin Rickman it has been a seamless but, perhaps, unusual transition from soldier to shipyard CE

Q. Where were you born?
A. In Kingston, Jamaica, in 1968. I was one of nine children for my parents.

Q. What influence did your parents have on your early life?
A. My father was a salesman for a dry goods company in Jamaica and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. My father was quite strict with us children and ensured that all got a good education. Daddy was tough, but my mother was the one we could always go to for support.

Q. Where did you go to school?
A. I attended Kingston Technical High School (KTHS) located in the heart of town. Being at a technical school, I found my love for engineering and construction subjects. It was at KTHS that I decided that I wanted to be in engineering.

Q. What was life like for you as a young person growing up in Jamaica?
A. As a young person with a large family, there was always a lot to do, fun times and adventures, but of course there were frequent fights and disputes over minor trivial things. At one point, eight of the nine children attended the same school, which included both, a preparatory school and a high school on the same compound. I had siblings who were almost in every grade level.

Q. What about college or university? In what subject(s) did you graduate?
A. I attended the College of Arts Science and Technology (now the University of Technology) where I studied Construction, Engineering and Management. I completed several high-level leadership and management training and studies while also a member in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). Later I attended the University of the West Indies where I completed a Master of Science Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Q. What was you first job on leaving full-time education or did you go directly into the military?
A. My first job after high school was as a draughtsman at a civil/structural engineering firm in Jamaica. Ironically, I had the honour to engage them about the engineering work for the shipyard we recently developed in Kingston, Jamaica.

Q. You joined the JDF in 1990 and did initial officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in the United Kingdom. You were subsequently commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant in the QJDF. What did you learn from your time at the Academy?
A. At the Academy we studied leadership and command while leading troops into operations. We were also exposed to strategic levels of international affairs and similar studies. The RMAS is a very prestigious military training institute in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and many high-profile figures including members of the royal family have attended. It was a one-year academic and physical training course that covered many training exercises in very harsh environments in extreme geographical and climate conditions. This experience represented a significant challenge for me and on completion it rewarded me with a great sense of pride about this accomplishment.

Q. In 2017 Prime Minister Andrew Holness chose you to be National Coordinator of the Housing, Opportunities, Production and Employment (HOPE) program. Prior to this appointment you had also worked with several social intervention programs during your service in the JDF including the Citizen’s Security and Justice Programme (CSJP). Is it fair to say that these roles seem, at face value, somewhat unusual for someone with long and distinguished military background?
A. Yes, it is fair to say that it is an unusual role to take on for a person with a background such as myself. On the other hand, my military training and experience were well suited to conduct such a program, which included project planning, coordination and training, particularly of unattached youth in Jamaica and my own background helped to prepare me for such a position.

Q. After 28 years in the JDF you were promoted to the rank of colonel in 2018. When you look back, are you proud of what you achieved during your time in the military?
A. I am proud of my years of service in the military to my country and to the wider region. In total I served 32 years, which somehow did not seem that long. During my career, I was deployed locally as well as internationally. These deployments were mainly for humanitarian disaster relief missions such as to Montserrat in 1998 after the eruption of the Soufriére Hills Volcano. For this mission I planned and deployed a team of military engineers to assist in the rebuilding of homes for displaced persons affected by the pyroclastic flow from the volcano. I also led planning and coordination for the deployment of the Caricom delegation sent to Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010. I have been involved in several military operations over the years and I like to believe that I made a difference to so many lives because of my personal efforts.

Q. On leaving the armed forces, in what was a significant career change, you joined the German Ship Repair Jamaica (GSRJ) in March 2021. What attracted you to a position in a completely different sector and was your engineering background in the JDF a factor in your decision?
A. I was introduced to the company by a close friend who indicated that there were challenges being faced with the development of the shipyard. Being someone who always loved a good challenge, this became attractive to me as at the time I was thinking about what my plans would be after my military service. I particularly liked the idea of helping to create an entirely new industry in Jamaica that would come with creating new employment and opportunities for the country and its citizens.

Q. Within a few months of joining GSRJ you were the yard’s CEO. How did this step-up happen so quickly?
A. I was recruited as CEO of the company when it only had an interim CEO present. Although all the research and the planning had been done before my joining GSRJ, the company could not get the shipyard started. I had to to review all the plans to implement and develop a shipyard, including assisting with securing the finances necessary to complete it.

Q. You joined GSRJ at a time when the company was planning a major expansion and you subsequently worked to successfully raise USD 37 million – much of this money from within Jamaica – to fund the purchase of the yard’s first floating dock, which arrived in Kingston last year. How difficult a task was it get this kind of financial backing locally? And what were the main challenges undertaking a project of this scale?
A. First of all, the original plans and designs for the shipyard were very extensive, with all the perfect bells and whistles included. The bank reviewing those plans had reservations and the entire project seemed to be collapsing. I worked with my small team to develop a new, leaner project plan. I moved the project from a ‘Rolls-Royce’ of shipyards to being a ‘Toyota’ shipyard, with high efficiency and reliability which was far more achievable both financially and practically. I called up my friends at Sagicor Bank and made the pitch for the project support, at the end of the presentation I will never forget the VP for Investments at the bank leaned back in his chair and said: “This looks like a great new project for Jamaica. It is a no brainer and we would be happy and honoured to support”. Although it was a difficult task to convince potential investors that this was a worthwhile investment opportunity with excellent potential for growth of Jamaica’s economy, I thoroughly enjoyed doing just that. It helped that I absolutely believed in the project myself!

Q. What has been the yard’s experience over the last few months with the floating dock in place, employing an expanded workforce and the opportunity to bid for bigger and more complex repair contracts?
A. The experience has been extremely valuable faced with several challenges to be overcome as expected when developing a pioneering industry of such magnitude. This includes finding qualified local and international sub-contractors and talent to support the development and operation of the shipyard. The floating dock now renamed as ‘JAM-DOCK 1’ is more than 40 years old, which also means a lot of maintenance and upgrading of the systems is required.

Q. How do you now see the yard’s position in the Caribbean ship repair market?
A. Due to our strategic geographical location, we are excellently positioned to serve the regional ship repair needs. This is a Panamax-size floating dock, and our proximity to the Panama Canal and as a hub for shipping activities in the region, we have a great vantage point to add to the existing facilities in the region to satisfy a huge market demand.

Q. Has heading up a growing shipyard been a challenge after a life spend mostly in the military and the charitable sector?
A. It has been a great challenge, yet a very rewarding one. I still keep myself involved in youth development programmes because that is another passion that I have – helping young people develop and find their paths. I believe that more of us should contribute as much as we can to support development in the Jamaica we love!

Q. What has been your most memorable professional accomplishment to date?
A. It is difficult to single out some things because each has its rewards. One of the most significant accomplishments has been the missions to Montserrat and Haiti after the devastation they suffered. My team and I were able to significantly and positively impact so many lives. I was also very proud of the impact made with the Prime Minister’s HOPE Program for unattached youth during my five-year reign. Over 30,000 young people received some form of training and work experience through my efforts. To this day, former participants will approach me on the street to say thanks for the start that I gave to them. The development of Jamaica’s first shipyard will undoubtedly stand out as the most significant achievement of my life, although we are still working out the kinks of a new industry in the country. This one I am particularly proud of.

Q. Beyond work, what are your main interests and hobbies?
A. Creating opportunities for young people to find their way in life has been one of the main driving forces and interests of my personal and professional career. I continue to work with charities such as the Inter-American Development Bank-sponsored Jamaica Employment and Training (JET) project and chair steering committees of a privately funded Hope Opportunity Charity for youth, which gives me a great sense of satisfaction. 

My other interests include hiking and exploring new places, cycling and cruising on my motorcycle on weekends.

Lastly, spending time with my family is always a source of rejuvenation and relaxation that provides me with the strength to master all the challenges.

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