Frank de Heer ~ Vice President, New Ship Development - Walt Disney Imagineering

A 30-year veteran of the cruise industry, de Heer was named to this post in 1998 and is responsible for the overall safety, security compliance, medical, navigation, itinerary planning, marine, engineering, drydock, interior design and maintenance aspects of the line's vessels and island, including all technical hotel and entertainment equipment.

De Heer joined Disney Cruise Line in 1996 to establish marine and technical operations as well as the organization’s safety management system.

Prior to joining Disney Cruse Line, de Heer served in various shipboard and shoreside posts at Holland America Line, where he was the superintendent responsible for the maintenance, technical operations and repair budget for Windstar Cruises and several of Holland America Line's large cruise ships.

His career began with the Holland America Line as a shipboard engineer on the SS Rotterdam and SS Statendam. He was selected to be part of the new builds supervision team in France and retired his shipboard career to be part of the management team in the marine and technical department of the Holland America Line and Windstar Cruises.

De Heer is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

Born in 1958, he earned his Bachelor of Science in mechanical and marine engineering at the Academy for Marine Engineers. He currently resides in Windermere, Fla.