Today, we’re spotlighting Janna Chernetz, Senior Director of Global Government & Regulatory Affairs at Amogy. Janna works to advance policies that support the commercialization of our ammonia-powered solutions and that pave the way for adoption of ammonia as fuel. She was instrumental in working with regulatory bodies and local authorities to ensure we had approval to sail the NH3 Kraken. Get to know more about her journey and the impactful work she’s doing below.
Name: Janna Chernetz
Job title: Senior Director, Global Government & Regulatory Affairs
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Department: Public Affairs
Born and raised in New Jersey, Janna has always tackled challenges head-on. Fueled by curiosity and determination, she grew up dreaming of designing airplanes or becoming a pilot—she even attended Space Camp to feed her passion for exploration. Her adventurous spirit later translated into ultra-running, where she has completed over fifty ultra-marathons, including four 100-milers, one of which made her the first woman in history to finish the race.
Janna began her career practicing family law in the Orthodox Jewish community. However, driven by a passion for creating safer, more accessible environments, she transitioned to transportation policy, where she focused on initiatives that promoted mobility, sustainability, and outdoor access. Her work was critical to establishing state and local policies that accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels across multiple transportation sectors.
Eventually recognizing that effective implementation is the key to impactful climate policy, Janna decided to take her expertise beyond policymaking. At Amogy, she’s channeling her commitment to innovation and sustainability, and strives to ensure that the policies she helped shape are brought to life through the adoption of clean energy solutions.
What is your position at Amogy?
At Amogy, my role focuses on bridging the gap between our innovative technology and the regulatory and policy landscape that will enable its commercialization. I’m always looking for opportunities to introduce Amogy and our technology to policymakers and decision-makers who play a critical role in paving the way for its adoption.
A big part of my work involves laying a strong foundation of trust, knowledge, and collaboration with these stakeholders. This ensures they understand not just the technology but also the potential it holds for the energy transition. I also work closely with government agencies to help shape policies and regulations that align with the development of our technology. It’s exciting and rewarding to help build the pathway for such impactful innovation.
What do you like most about working at Amogy?
Coming from a very small and highly collaborative organization, I knew I was in for both the change and challenge of being part of a much larger, rapidly growing company. But, here, I truly feel like I have the best of both worlds. I’m surrounded by brilliant, innovative people while still enjoying the closeness and camaraderie within my smaller team that energizes me.
Every day at Amogy is a learning opportunity, and I love the constant growth—both personally and professionally. It’s exciting to be part of a team that’s pushing the boundaries of innovation, from groundbreaking technology to driving this energy transition. Sometimes I think about the unique impact we’re making, and it’s humbling to wonder: if we weren’t here, who would be tackling these challenges? It’s all so new and meaningful, and I’m thrilled to be part of something that feels this important.
You played a key role in orchestrating the first ammonia bunkering in the United States to successfully fuel Amogy’s tugboat for its groundbreaking demonstration. Can you share the significance of this achievement?
Demonstrating the world’s first carbon-free, ammonia-powered tugboat was an incredible achievement for our team, and orchestrating the first ammonia bunkering in the U.S. was a key part of making it happen.
Getting regulatory approval for the demonstration was a team effort. For over two years, we worked closely with regulatory bodies to adapt existing LNG and LHG protocols to incorporate safety measures specific to ammonia. This meant coordinating with multiple USCG departments to secure waivers, exemptions, and alternatives—all while keeping safety front and center. Not only did this allow us to complete the demonstration, but it also helped lay the groundwork for ammonia to become a future maritime fuel and established Amogy as a strong thought-leader within the USCG.
Setting up safe bunkering procedures is essential for scaling ammonia as a fuel in the maritime industry. With this project, we showed that ammonia can be safely bunkered onto a vessel, which marked a historic step for U.S. maritime innovation.
Which Amogy core value resonates most with you?
Choosing just one Amogy core value is like being asked which Friends character I identify with most—you can’t pick just one because you see a little bit of all of them in yourself. Everything we do day-to-day embodies a blend of our values—humility, impact, safety, execution, and accountability—and it’s that collective approach that makes our work so effective. Each value plays a role in driving our mission forward.
