KELLY COLEMAN

Rick Kaiser has proudly served his country for over 34 years in active and civilian government duties.  This retired decorated Navy SEAL’s resume is impressive.  But what might be even more impressive is his obvious dedication and commitment to a new mission:  Bringing the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum into the future.

With a fascination for the water and diving since age 17, the Ft. Pierce museum’s newest Executive Director and Master Chief has made a lifelong career of being a Frogman.  “It was the Navy recruiter’s pamphlet, “Become A Frogman” that hooked me.  I thought I wanted to enter the submarine service.  Boy, am I happy I didn’t do that!” Kaiser grins.\

Finishing his Basic Underwater Demolition SEALTraining in Coronado Beach, California, Rick moved to begin active duty and made his home for almost 35 years in Virginia Beach. Active service took him all over the world deploying several times to places such as Bosnia to hunt war criminals and Somalia to hunt warlords (which earned him a Silver Star!) and then Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa and many other hot spots.

KAISER deployed over 200 days a year while on active duty and continued to travel during his civilian service until 2012.  It was at this point Rick answered the call to retire from military life and dive into the private sector. Answering an ad in The Blast, a UDT SEAL association publication, the father of two and his wife, Sue, decided to pull up deep roots in Virginia Beach and make their way to the shores of Vero.

“It’s been a transition, an adjustment for the whole family – but worth the jump.  We love it here,” said Kaiser.  “After all, we live in paradise.  What’s not to love!”

But Kaiser isn’t a man of leisure quite yet – he has a new job to do.  “What happens at the museum rests on my shoulders” Kaiser said, “it’s a lot like running a business.  There is always something to do, someone to call.”

With active plans in place and already in motion, Kaiser plans to move the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum forward – into the future.

Known as ‘The Birthplace of the Navy Frogman’, the UDT-SEAL museum is located along A1A on the shores of North Hutchinson Island.    The grounds currently feature an outdoor exhibit, two indoor galleries and a theater.

In 2012 the museum hosted over 60,000 visitors. It is the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the warriors of Naval Special Warfare.  It was on the hometown shores of the Treasure Coast – right here in our own back yard – that the Navy SEALs began 70 years ago.

The first Navy SEAL trainees prepared here for the Normandy Invasion in 1943.  “They put obstacles here on the grounds, at the beach, to practice blowing up and creating lanes for landing craft to go in for the big invasion of D-Day.  Frogmen created the openings for our ships to land” explained Kaiser.

After WW2 the US military shut down this base and moved operations to Little Creek, Virginia where it stayed for the next 20 years until moving permanently to the current training facility in Coronado, California.

Over the last 28 years, the museum has remained committed to preserving the history of the US Navy SEALS and promoting public education by offering opportunity to explore this history.  There are three pillars of this unique landmark that support their mission:

1.  Preservation of history and heritage & public education

2.  Honoring the 180 Frogman and their families inscribed on the granite memorial wall

3. The Trident House – a newly donated and dedicated respite house, open to those families of US Navy SEALs who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and to those special operations forces still on active duty.

The museum is not government supported.  It exists solely on donations collected thru admissions to the museum, sales from the museum gift store and donations from members and fundraising events.

So it comes as no surprise that Kaiser has also embraced the fundraising and public awareness mission. With plans to reach out to neighboring Vero Beach and Indian River County residents, Kaiser feels that the museum may have neglected this lucrative channel in the past.  Public awareness and knowledge that this museum exists and welcomes everyone precipitates the plans to build an expanded site, including new wing and a new 8,400 square foot building a.    And Kaiser and the Museum Board of Directors are a third of the way to the $2 million goal in just six months!

The expansion and revitalization of the museum grounds includes plans to build an IMAX Theatre with an attached restaurant and to transform the museum into a highly interactive experience for all visitors.  Since SEALs often use skills deployed in the sea, air and over land, many missions are carried out in multiple environments.  The museum visitor will have the chance to do it all using the newest interactive technology.

“There is a lot more science involved in being a SEAL than you would think, everything from ballistics of firing a weapon to the physics of diving and jumping. We’re going to try and incorporate all of that along with our artifacts” says Kaiser.

Imagine planning a SEAL mission to track down Osama Bin Laden!  Put on night vision gear and go into imaginary combat!  Be a part of a rescue – like the Maersk Alabama’s Captain Phillips when you jump on his lifeboat!  Join a HALO jumper and descend from the sky out of Black Hawk helicopter!  Whether you come for the history, the experience, or both, this museum has something for everyone. It’s one of a kind. But not without change – It’s growing…expanding into the future.

If you don’t have plans for Veteran’s Day this November, mark your calendar for the 28^th Annual Muster celebration.  What is a muster?  It is a formal gathering of troops as in preparation or inspection.   It is the museum’s premier event. Last year over 10,000 people attended the 27^th Muster, located at Pepper Park.  Frogmen, friends and family along with the public all come together to celebrate their history and heritage with exhibits, speeches by Admirals, demonstrations by SEALs and more. It’s an annual event that is worthy of appreciation with a reputation for inspiring and moving the attendees- much like Rick Kaiser and the UDT-Navy SEAL Museum – inspiring, moving forward, and stepping into the future.