The Maritime Administration has named Alan T. Hicks to head its new Southern California Gateway Office in Ten Gateway Offices have been established in the Nation's largest ports to place a team of intermodal maritime experts "on the ground" that work with headquarters staff, state and local authorities and a broad range of port, shipper and carrier stakeholders to cooperate on projects. The goal is to work on reducing congestion, improving freight and passenger movement, and addressing environmental and community challenges in the ports, intermodal connections, and key freight and passenger corridors. The Southern California Gateway Office will provide support in , Southern California (South of Point Conception), West Coast of Mexico, and . Prior to this appointment, Mr. Hicks was the Senior Director of Government Policy and Compliance with Maersk Inc., in Arlington, Va., the largest ocean container carrier in the world, where he was heavily involved both internally and externally in the analysis and strategic planning for US infrastructure and environmental development as they pertain to transportation issues. He also brings a wealth of domestic and international trade experience working in the maritime industry. Alan holds a Masters degree in Transportation Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.