U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Wednesday officially swore in Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Buzby as head of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Mark Buzby has been sworn in as head of the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Buzby has been sworn in as head of the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The ceremony was conducted Aug. 16 in Washington, D.C. by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
As MarAd Administrator, Buzby is now in charge of the agency that promotes the use of waterborne transportation and its incorporation with other segments of the transportation system. In addition he is tasked with “the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced U.S. merchant marine” that can carry a portion of America’s waterborne commerce, plus serve during a time of war or national emergency, according to the DOT.
In addition to the above, Buzby’s Maritime Administration also oversees the national Merchant Marine Academy.
Before being chosen for his current role, Buzby was president of the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), a global association of transportation and logistics professionals.
Prior to that, he was a career Naval officer with over 34 years of military service, including an extensive background in maritime transportation. Prior to his retirement from the U.S. Navy in 2013, Buzby served as the Commander of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) from October 2009 to March 2013. MSC is the provider of ocean transportation for the Department of Defense, operating about 120 ships daily around the globe.
“I grew up on the water, piloting vessels from the time I was nine years old, and have a lifelong love for the sea,” Buzby said. “It is one of the great honors of my life to serve as Maritime Administrator.”
Buzby himself graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1979. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science and U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate License, and is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College.
He holds master’s degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and Salve Regina University in Strategic Studies and International Relations respectively.