DHS seeks candidates for COAC
The Department of Homeland Security is soliciting industry representatives who are active in international trade issues to serve on the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee.
COAC members are eligible to serve two two-year terms. Half the membership usually turns over every cycle. COAC has 20 members, but is operating one person short since the spring when Jonathan Gold left his job at the Retail Industry Leaders Association to join U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a cargo security analyst. Importers are heavily represented on the panel, which also includes executives from the maritime, rail, broker and legal communities.
The Bush administration appointed the current COAC members in January 2005.
COAC makes recommendations to the CBP Commissioner, and secretaries of Homeland Security and Treasury. During the past four years the group has been heavily involved in helping to shape cargo security policies.
Interested parties should send an application letter stating their qualifications for the position and party affiliation. To see the announcement in the Federal Register, go to:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-11285.pdf .
Meanwhile, DHS announced that COAC will hold its next quarterly meeting on Aug. 3 in Washington. Topics to be discussed include:
* Cargo seals for domestic transport;
* Advance shipping data;
* CBP’s Strategic Plan;
* World Customs Organization security standards;
* Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism; and
* Trade enforcement initiatives.