Mike Emerson is the Director for Marine Transportation Systems and Senior Arctic Policy Advisor at Coast Guard Headquarters. He manages a broad portfolio of marine navigation, waterway, and bridge programs, and is also responsible for a wide variety of Polar and Arctic safety and security initiatives. Emerson returned to Coast Guard Headquarters in August 2015, following a three year assignment in the Office of Operations at the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters.

Emerson retired from the Coast Guard in 2014, after 30 years of service. His tours of duty included Senior Fellow for the CNO Strategic Studies Group in Newport, Rhode Island; Chief of Aviation Forces at Coast Guard Headquarters; Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida; Chief of Drug Interdiction at Coast Guard Headquarters; four tours in aviation as a C-130 pilot, and two tours at sea.

Emerson graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Government Degree and has since received a Masters Degree in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from American Military University.