Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (October 2014)

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INSIGHTS

Paul “Chip” Jaenichen was appointed by President

Obama and sworn in as Maritime Administrator on July 25, 2014. Before his appointment, Administrator Jae- nichen served as Acting Administrator beginning in June 2013. He joined the U.S. Department of Transportation,

Maritime Administration in July 2012 when he was ap- pointed Deputy Maritime Administrator. A career naval offi cer, retiring in 2012 after serving 30 years as nuclear trained Submarine Offi cer in the U.S. Navy, Jaenichen’s fi nal assignment was Deputy Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Department of the Navy from October 2010 to

April 2012. Prior to that, he commanded a Los Angeles

Class Fast Attack Submarine, as well as an entire Subma- rine Squadron. His shore tours included assignments as

Director, Submarine/Nuclear Offi cer Distribution where he was responsible for career progression and assignment of over 5,200 offi cers and as Chief, European and North

Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Policy Division on the Joint Staff where he was responsible for military-to- military engagement on security cooperation and involve- ment in coalition operations with all 26 NATO member nations. Jaenichen earned a Bachelor of Science in Ocean

Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a

Masters in Engineering Management from Old Domin- ion University. Although no stranger to the waterfront itself, Jaenichen is better known on the naval side of the equation. That said; he brings common sense to a position which surely demands it and has shown himself to be a quick study in all things that impact commercial, domestic maritime stakeholders. Throughout his short tenure at the

U.S. Maritime Administration, he has been known as a capable advocate for department and the maritime sectors that he helps foster. Listen in this month as he provides a thorough SITREP on the domestic waterfront.

You are 15 months into the job as U.S. Maritime Ad- ministrator and have been approved by the U.S. Sen- ate. You’ve been with Marad for more than two years.

Give us your impressions of working at Marad and also tell us what you brought to the Administrator’s offi ce.

Since arriving at MARAD I have found the professional- ism, diligence and dedication of MARAD employees im- pressive and among the best I have seen in Government.

Without question, they are working hard every day to rein- force America’s future course as a maritime Nation. I think what I brought to MARAD was a focus and prioritization on the issues of most importance to the maritime industry in those areas where MARAD can make a difference and achieve the best affect or outcome. In any government or- ganization, you are faced with limited resources. Once you lose focus on the most important areas or fail to prioritize actions, the organization is spread so thin that you don’t get much done nor do you get appreciable return on the orga- nization’s investment either in funding or human capital.

As you’re aware, there has been no real attempt to develop a National Maritime Strategy since the late 1960s, and ob- viously—a new one is long overdue. This was something

Paul N. Jaenichen

Maritime

Administrator,

United States Maritime

Administration

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