Trump nominates retired Navy officer to lead MarAd

The military career of Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, President Donald Trump’s nomination for administrator of the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, spanned 34 years, including at-sea positions on Navy cruisers and destroyers.

   President Donald Trump has nominated retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark H. Buzby of Virginia to become administrator of the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd).
   Rear Admiral Buzby’s military career spanned 34 years, including at-sea positions primarily on Navy cruisers and destroyers, according to a statement from the White House.
   During his career, Buzby commanded the USS Carney, Destroyer Squadron Thirty-One, Surface Warfare Officers School Command, Joint Task Force Guantanamo, and the Military Sealift Command. He also held key positions on the Navy Staff, the Joint Staff, and several fleet staffs.
   In addition, Buzby is a recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards. He’s a 1975 graduate of Admiral Farragut Academy, and a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He holds Masters degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and Salve Regina University.
   Rear Admiral Buzby, who lives about 200 miles outside Wash. DC in Norfolk, Virginia, currently serves as president and CEO of the National Defense Transportation Association, and sits on the boards of several maritime industry related corporations.
   If confirmed as head of the Maritime Administration, Buzby’s role would be to advise and assist Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on commercial maritime matters, as well as the U.S. maritime industry and strategic sea-lift. He would also act as a liaison between MarAd and public and private organizations that have a stake the U.S. maritime industry.
   The position of MarAd administrator has been vacant since the mid-January departure of Chip Jaenichen, an Obama appointee, days before President Trump’s inauguration. Jaenichen is now COO of HMS Global Maritime.