Trump names Michael Khouri acting chairman

Michael A. Khouri is replacing Mario Cordero as acting chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, but Cordero will remain as one of the five commissioners.    Michael A. Khouri was named acting chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) last week by President Donald Trump, replacing Mario Cordero.
   Cordero, who joined the FMC on June 3, 2011 and was named chairman on April 1, 2013, will remain as one of the FMC’s five commissioners.
   Khouri joined the FMC in December 2009 and is one of two Republican commissioners, the other being Rebecca F. Dye. The three Democrats are Cordero, William P. Doyle and Daniel B. Maffei.
   FMC members serve five-year terms that expire on June 30.
   Maffei’s term expires on June 30 of this year, and it is expected President Trump will replace him with a member of his own party. Doyle’s term expires in 2018, followed by Cordero’s in 2019, Dye’s in 2020 and Khouri’s in 2021.
   Khouri has worked in the maritime industry for 45 years, holding positions in marine vessel operations, legal and executive positions. He also served on the board of directors at the Waterways Council, Inc. and the American Waterways Operators.
   He began his career as a deck crewman for Paducah, KY-based Crounse Corp., where he worked up in rank with service in the engine room and then into the wheelhouse as pilot and captain, earning his U.S. Merchant Marine Officer’s License as Master and First Class Pilot on Steam and Motor Vessels.
   He then served for 23 years with American Commercial Lines, the largest U.S. inland marine company, holding executive positions including general counsel and secretary, senior vice president for law and corporate affairs, and senior vice president for transportation services-marine operations.
   He then served as president and chief executive officer of MERS/Economy Boat, a firm that provided fueling and waste disposal services for the tug and barge industry before joining the law firm of Pedley & Gordinier in Louisville, Ky.
   Khouri received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Tulane University, and his JD from the Brandeis School of Law-University of Louisville. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.