The US Secretary of Transportation, the Honorable Raymond LaHood, has appointed PortEconomics member Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue  to sit on the Advisory Board of the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point. The USMMA, founded in 1943, is a Federal service Academy within the Department of Transportation’s purview that trains leaders for service in the commercial maritime industry and the nation’s Ready Reserve defense fleet.

Upon recommendation from the Office of the Secretary and the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) of the Department of Transportation, Dr. Rodrigue, a globally recognized expert on transportation issues, was retained by Secretary LaHood. As one of the seven members of the Advisory Board, Jean-Paul Rodrigue is expected to ensure that the Academy’s curriculum and faculty are properly aligned and in step with current industry trends. The Board will meet with the Secretary of Transportation and the Maritime Administrator once a year to report their findings.