at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York with both deck and engine department training. After graduating in 1974 with a Third Mate’s license, Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the Naval Reserve, he served three years active duty in the Navy as Damage Control Assistant aboard the anti-submarine warfare frigate USS Knox (FF-1052).

In 1977 Capt. Moloney joined Military Sealift Command, Pacific (MSCPAC) as a Third Officer.  He served in various ship types as Second Officer, Cargo Mate, and Chief Mate during the next five years. In 1982 Capt. Moloney was appointed Master of the aviation fuel tanker USNS Nodaway working in the Far East and thereafter commanded a variety of ship types including a fleet tugboat, towed array surveillance ship, underway replenishment oilers, prepositioned roll-on-roll-off ships, and a hospital ship.  Capt. Moloney spent four and a half years as permanent Master of the Far East deployed, underway replenishment oiler USNS Hassayampa from 1984 to 1988.  Additional experience was gained in supervising three major modernization overhauls in foreign and naval shipyards on vessels under his command. 

During his multiple tours on the USNS Hassayampa, Capt. Moloney was involved in three Vietnamese "boat people" recoveries, rescuing a total of 211 refugees. A group of women and children refugees from the third rescue are pictured at left with Capt. Moloney. 

In early 1989 Capt. Moloney became the Marine Superintendent for MSCPAC.  During that time he also served relief master tours aboard  several MSCPAC ships including the hospital ship USNS Mercy during San Francisco Fleet Week 1989.  

Capt. Moloney left MSCPAC in late 1991 to form Moloney Maritime Resources. During 1992 he served as a contract instructor with California Maritime Academy in the Continuing Maritime Education Department and was the Academy's consultant to the state's Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response assigned to the San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee. In February 1993  Capt. Moloney was appointed as the Executive Director of the State Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun.  He served in that position until retiring in late 2009.  He was integrally involved in the testing and training of pilot trainees and investigations of pilotage incidents. This included lead investigator on the Cosco Busan incident in 2007 and participation in the National Transportation Safety Board operations team investigating that incident.

Other maritime activities include serving as President of the San Francisco chapter of the Council of American Master Mariners from 1992-1996, 2001-2003, and 2005-2006 and election as National 2nd Vice President in 1997 for eight years.  From 1998 to 2006 he served as one of the Vice Presidential positions of the International Federation of Ship Masters Associations, headquartered in London.

During the summer of 1996, Capt. Moloney was able to return to sea-duty as Master of the National Liberty Ship Memorial, SS Jeremiah O'Brien for a voyage to the Pacific Northwest.  Following the ship's return he has continued to serve as master and port captain for the periodic cruises in the San Francisco Bay Area. Capt. Moloney also serves on The National Liberty Ship Memorial Board of Directors.

Capt. Moloney is married to Shoko Fujiwara, an artist, formerly of Nagoya, Japan. They have one daughter and reside in San Francisco, California. When he is not sailing or working on a book project, Capt. Moloney’s hobbies include collecting vintage National Geographic Magazines, model ship building, and bicycling around Marin.