The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced that Michael A. Khouri of Louisville, Ky., has been sworn in as a Commissioner for a term to expire on June 30, 2011. Commissioner Khouri was nominated by President Barack Obama on December 3, 2009, and confirmed by the Senate on December 24, 2009.
Commissioner Khouri comes to the FMC as a 35-year veteran in the maritime industry from positions held in vessel operations, legal and executive positions. He has also served on the boards of directors at the American Waterways Operators Association and the Waterways Council.
Khouri began his career as a deck crewman for Paducah, Ky.-based Crounse Corp., where he worked his way up from deck hand to towboat captain. He then spent 23 years at Jeffersonville-based American Commercial Lines, a major inland marine company, holding numerous executive positions including General Counsel, Senior Vice President for Law & Corporate Affairs, and Senior Vice President for Transportation Services-marine operations. Khouri then went on to become president and COO of MERS/Economy Boat in Memphis, TN, a maritime fuels and ship chandler, with primary responsibility for company expansion and acquisitions. Most recently, Khouri worked as an attorney with Louisville-based Pedley & Gordinier PLLC law firm, focusing on transportation and maritime law.
In 1971, Khouri received his BA in Economics from Tulane University, and in 1980, his JD from the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.